Judaism’s Perspective on Jesus
Judaism views Jesus in a much different way than Christianity does. To those of the Jewish faith, Jesus occupies an altogether different place in the religious landscape, one that significantly distorts how he is understood by Christianity. In Jewish tradition, Jesus is not held to be the son of God or Messiah.
Within mainstream Judaism, there has always been a distinct lack of reverence for Jesus, particularly among conservative and traditionalist adherents, who offer less willingness for dialogue or reconciliation regarding Jesus’ theology. Even among progressive Jews who are more willing to accept Jesus’ teachings, it is important to note that the Jewish faith does not adhere to the same view of the Messiah as the Christian faith.
Unlike the Christian concept of Jesus as the incarnation of God, Jewish beliefs place Jesus with some level of respect and recognition, though not as a prophet. He is seen as a great teacher, but not as a savior. To many Jews, Jesus is not someone who is to be worshipped as much as listened to as a wise sage.
Jesus is usually seen as an inspired teacher, viewed in the same vein as Moses or Abraham, who are certainly respected in the religion. Though some might hold opinions that are more neutral, he is often seen as a positive figure in Jewish history, who made moral demands on his followers and preached a message of equality and justice that Judaism considers to be beneficial.
The relationship between Jesus and Judaism is complicated. Jews view Jesus differently than Christians and often regard him with skepticism. Jesus’ teachings, while often in disagreement with Jewish doctrine, were believed to be beneficial in creating the ethical and moral framework from which modern Jewish society is based.
Though viewed differently than by Christianity, Jesus is nonetheless seen as a significant religious figure by many Jews, and one with whom the faith has a complicated relationship.
Jesus and the Hebrew Bible
Judaism does not take the same view as Christianity on the figure of Jesus. The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, is the only sacred scripture for Jewish people. It provides the foundation for Jewish beliefs and is divided into three parts: the Torah, the Neviʾim, and the Ketuvim. The Hebrew Bible documents the life and times of Jesus, but makes no mention of his divinity.
As such, insofar as the Hebrew Bible is concerned, there is no basis on which to view Jesus as a divine figure, or as a divinely-appointed messenger. While Jesus is referenced in the Gospels, the Hebrew Scriptures provide no grounds for believing that Jesus was born of a virgin or that he was raised from the dead. He is merely a man whose name occasionally appears in its pages.
The Hebrew Bible states nothing of his supposed messiahship, and is clear that any descendant of King David that claims to be a ruler of the Jewish people should do so through the line of Nathan, not Solomon. In this way, Judaism rejects the notion that Jesus was ‘the’ Messiah.
It is clear, then, that the Hebrew Bible differs greatly from the Christian view of Jesus. This is to be expected, because Christianity is a separate religion entirely. As such, the core beliefs and scriptures of each religion must differ in order to provide the necessary distinction. The two faiths can never agree on matters of Jesus’ divinity because they come from completely different traditions and premise.
Jesus and Talmudic literature
Within Talmudic literature, Jesus is mostly depicted as an intense and troublesome figure who preaches revolution and disobedience to the Jewish leaders. For this reason, he has been closely associated with heresy, blasphemy, and religious corruption. In later years, he has been referred to as “Yeshu ben Pandera,” meaning the son of Pandera, which is meant to emphasize Jesus’ shady origin.
This depiction of Jesus as an unruly figure has led many to believe that he was not a respected figure in the Jewish faith. However, this is far from true. In reality, Jesus was considered a prophet by some Jewish rabbis, and while his views were not automatically agreed with, they were respected.
In the Talmud, Jesus is treated with respect and concern, while simultaneously his actions and teachings are duly noted and critiqued. While the Talmud does not ascribe deity to Jesus, it however does not call him “evil” but rather, “a wise man.”
This reveals a greater level of reverence for Jesus than may be assumed. Though Talmudic literature does not ascribe divinity to Jesus, it does nonetheless pay him a certain level of respect, which is rarely found elsewhere in Jewish literature.
This does not mean, however, that Jesus is viewed on par with any other major prophets or revered figures of the Tanakh. In the strictest sense, Judaism does not view Jesus with the same level of reverence or authority as the other great figures of the Bible.
Judaism and Jesus’ Teachings
The teachings of Jesus are considered to be important and valuable, but not on the same level as those of the other biblical prophets. Some aspects of Jesus’ teachings may be closer to those of the modern-day Rabbis than any other figure in the Tanakh. This is largely due to the moral emphasis that Jesus placed on his teachings.
The Jewish faith places great importance on morality, so while they do not accept Jesus as a divine figure, they hold a certain level of respect for the import of his teachings. This is evidenced in the ethical legacy that Jesus left behind, which many Jewish scholars interpret as valid and important.
The primary teachings of Jesus that appear to align with those of the Jewish faith relate to the pursuit of justice, charity, humility, and moderation. Many of Jesus’ teachings have been incorporated into Jewish practice and are held in high regard by the Jewish clergy.
Jesus’ teachings, no matter what faith one subscribes to, provide an invaluable source of moral and ethical teachings for the modern world. These teachings are often those upon which Judaism and other religions draw to shape their views on human nature and relationship to the divine.
Jesus and Reform Judaism
The more liberal movement of Reform Judaism takes a more positive stance on Jesus than conservative or traditionalist members of the religion. Reform Jews tend to tout Jesus as a messenger of morality, while still rejecting his divinity. Reform Jews also recognize certain teachings of Jesus as reinforcing those advocated within Judaism.
Since the movement values the importance of morality, ethics, and justice, Reform Jews are often attracted to Jesus’ teachings. Reform Judaism does not accept the same Jesus as Christianity does, but does recognize Jesus’ example of moral and compassionate leadership as both admirable and relevant.
This view of Jesus as a moral exemplar is echoed elsewhere in Jewish culture. Jesus is often seen as akin to other great Jewish figures such as Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah in that they were all prophets and messengers, though essentially not divinely appointed.
This view of Jesus has gained an immense amount of ground among liberal and progressive Jews who seek a way to reconcile Judaism and modern Christianity. They may recognize the inherent value of Jesus’ pronouncements, yet still reject his supposed divinity.
Conclusion
Judaism views Jesus in a much different way than Christianity does. The Jewish faith does not ascribe divinity to Jesus, and adheres to the belief that he was merely a good teacher, not a redeemer. The Hebrew Bible and Talmudic literature both differ from the Christian view of Jesus, and provide no basis on which to view him as a divine figure.
Reform Jews take a more accepting stance towards Jesus due to his focus on moral teachings, but his message is still not on par with traditional Jewish prophets. All in all, it is clear that Judaism places a great deal of emphasis on morality, but not on Jesus’ divinity.
