The Gospel's Jewish Opening

Saturday, May 29, 2021

For the Jewish people, the New Testament was a forbidden book, the most un-Jewish and anti-Jewish of books. For many Jewish people, their first opening of the New Testament is like one's first indulgence in an illegal substance. They smuggle it into their homes, lock themselves in their bathrooms and with trembling, fear, and centuries of guilt and trepidation for breaking the rabbinic injunction, they open its first page. They see: 'The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, Son of David, Son of Abraham.' We thought the New Testament was so un-Jewish that just touching it was enough to make one turn Swedish. To be hit with such a Jewish opening, such a totally kosher opening...! The fact is the New Testament is Jewish. It's amazing how many Jewish people miss it; more amazing how many Christians miss it - or the fact that Jesus is Jewish. You can relate to the Lord your whole life and never really know Him. It's written, 'Be still and know that I am God.' Get to know who God really is. You might find He has a surprise Jewish opening.

From Message #166 - The Gospel of Matthew