This month, we dug into Isaiah 53 and looked for Easter in the Old Testament.
Did you know that Isaiah 53 is a “forbidden chapter” in the Hebrew Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)? It is no longer read in the synagogues. How heartbreaking that this passage of Scripture (that prophesies so clearly of Jesus) is omitted.
Watch this very moving video to learn more.
I am reminded of these of Paul, written to the Romans, about Israel’s unbelief:
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:11-17)
Together, let’s keep the Jewish people in prayer… that they would hear of and receive the Messiah, Jesus Christ!
Not aware that Isaiah 53 is forbidden to read. There remains a general difference of opinion between Christians and Jews as to the proper exegeses of the words. In my opinion Jews tend to lean more to the eisegeses side, they (the Jews) of course say Christians do the same. The Christian interpretation is a clear instruction from:
Acts 8:27-35 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
The Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah 53 and Philip provides the interpretaion, subsequently he baptizes the Ethiopian who by now has accepted Jesus as his redeemer.
Jews (who read scripture at all) are quite aware of the implications of Isaiah 53 and know the debating points. It is more important that Christians ‘be’ what will impress the Jews rather that ‘argue’ the point from scripture. Please read
Romans 11:11-12 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Even if you don’t succeed with a direct witness to provoke jealousy, just by being saved by grace you will be raptured (I Thess 4:13-18) and your sudden absence will provoke many Jews who will just as suddenly realize that they missed out on the great promise of the Messiah. Out of this will come the 144,000 Jewish evangelists numbered by tribe in Rev 7 who will proclaim Jesus as Messiah during the tribulation.
A grammatical error: meant to say ‘you MAY be raptured instead of you WILL be rapured.