NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

by Dr. Robert R. Seyda

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CHAPTER SEVEN

Part V (con’t)

NOTE: Since we’ve had this lengthy narrative on the teachings of Jesus, at this point let’s look at the teachings of Judaism. In general, these represent the beliefs of the disciples before Jesus called them and revealed to them the entire Godhead, and explained to them more fully God’s message to the world brought by His Son. This may help you see where there are similarities and differences by examining the writings of an astute Jewish Scholar:

Now, the Jewish belief contains thirteen articles which are, in short, as they are found in their prayers and prayer books:

1. I believe, with true and perfect belief, that God is creator, governor, and keeper of all creatures; that He has created everything, is still creating, and will create forever.

2. I believe with perfect belief that there is but one God the Creator, and that so such unity may be found elsewhere save in Him, who alone was our God, is still, and will be forever.

3. I believe with perfect belief that God the Creator is not corporeal, nor does He have any corporeal characteristics, and that no corporeal being may be compared to Him.

4. I believe with perfect belief that God the Creator is the first and the last, and that there was nothing before Him, and that He will be the last one to remain forever.

5. I believe with perfect belief that He alone may be prayed to, and that no one beside Him may be prayed to.

6. I believe with perfect belief that everything the prophets have taught and spoken is the absolute truth.

7. I believe with perfect belief that the teaching and prophecy of Moses is true; and that he was father and chief of all wise men who lived in his time, who lived before him, and who will live after him in the future.

8. I believe with perfect belief that the entire Law as we find it in our hands today, was given to Moses by God Himself.

9. I believe with perfect belief that this Law will never be changed, and no other law should be, or will be, given to us by our God.

10. I believe with perfect belief that God knows and understands all the deeds and thoughts of men, as it is written in the Prophet: “He examines all their hearts, and takes notice of all their deeds.”¹

11. I believe with perfect belief that God will repay and reward those who obey His commands and will punish all who transgress His commands.

12. I believe with perfect belief that the Messiah will yet come, and even if he delays for a long time, all the same I will hope and I will listen out for him, and wait every day until he comes.

13. I believe with perfect belief that there will be an awakening of the dead at that time which will please God the Creator, may His name be blessed and highly extolled forever.²

The writer concludes with this: “This is the essence of the thirteen articles of the Jewish belief as they are set forth in their daily prayer books in a short and summary form. In them the poor blind Jews die and waste away wretchedly with great sighing, fear, doubt, and howling.”³

As we can see, everything the Jewish people believe is commensurate with what Christians believe, except for number 12. The Jews are still waiting, the Christians are already rejoicing in knowing and serving the Messiah who came into the world as a son of Israel and the Son of God. Therefore, the belief expressed in number 13 is already in the Christian believer’s possession. The sad thing is that many Jews believe they have to throw away all those beliefs contained in numbers 1 through 11 in order to become a Christian. But the truth is, that all of what God intended through Moses is fulfilled completely in Jesus the Christ.