The apostle Paul acknowledges the limitations of our spiritual understanding in 1 Cor. 12:13. He says followers of Christ see through a glass darkly while on earth, but one day face to face. Yet God is still willing to teach, guide and help us see the truth.
So what is truth? Western Christianity uses Greco-Roman language to express Hebraic ideas. It doesn't always work. Sometimes the message gets lost in translation. If the Bible is a Jewish book, about a Jewish Messiah, and a Jewish wedding – and it is – why do we have to think like Greeks? If truth-seekers would began to look at Scripture through a Hebraic lens, and be open to the leading of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), many of our church doctrines and traditions would be exposed for what they are: imposters.
For example, consider the common teaching that Jesus was abandoned by the Father during the crucifixion. Pastors quote the Lord in Matthew 27:46 – "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" – to suggest that the Father hid His face as the Son shouldered the sin of the world. But that is incorrect. In rabbinic tradition, when a Bible verse is quoted its entire text is implied. By quoting the opening words of Psalm 22, the Lord was telling the corrupt priests that He was the prophetic fulfillment of that Messianic psalm. Verses 16-18 were playing out before their eyes: "They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."
Yeshua had a purpose in everything he said and did. Even in his final hours of life He still was trying to draw all people to Himself (John 12:32), including the stiff-necked Pharisees watching Him hang from the tree. Yeshua did not quote Psalm 22 to complain about a division in the Godhead. Scripture shows clearly that the Father and Son were operating in perfect union and oneness at the cross. Yeshua says to the Father, "Forgive them, for they do not know what they do," and, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit."
Pastors are also in error when they teach that Yeshua became sin literally on the cross. If that were true, the Son would have been viewed by the Father as a blemished sacrifice and rejected, thus invalidating His blood atonement for mankind. Yeshua offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9:14). In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the sinner laid hands on the animal to transfer the liability of guilt and punishment. At no time did the innocent subject become sin or sinful. We must also examine 2 Corinthians 5:21 carefully – "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." The word "be" is in italics, meaning it is not in the original Greek. Bible scholars agree that the phrase "to be sin" would be better rendered "bearing the penalty for our sins."
Some pastors take false teaching to the extreme, claiming that Christ not only became sinful, but went to hell and had to be born again. That is utter nonsense. The Lord told the repentant thief on the cross he would join Him that day in paradise. He was referring to Sheol Paradise or Abraham's Bosom, the underworld holding area where Old Testament saints rested and waited for Messiah. When Yeshua ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection He took those saints with Him (Ephesians 4:8). Some argue that 1 Peter 3:19 describes Messiah descending to hell – "He went and preached to the spirits in prison." Not true. The Lord was announcing from Sheol Paradise His victory over sin and death. It would have been heard by the captives in Sheol Torment, an area inhabited by the unsaved and separated from Sheol Paradise by an abyss. Paradise is now in heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
Revelation 1:5 describes Messiah as the "firstborn from the dead," but does not mean He was born again. According to Bible commentator David Stern, Yeshua is the firstborn (or foremost, chief) of those raised from the dead. In other words, He is the first to demonstrate power over the grave.
How do we study through a Hebraic lens? Here are some recommended resources: The Bible (first and foremost . . . read it daily!), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, Accordance Bible software, ArtScroll Tanach Series, Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible (Jeff A. Benner).Posted by Jeff King at August 27, 2009 12:51 PM