Category: JEW – ISRAEL

Under the LAW, first fruits referred to offerings to God: Be it from labours, harvest, cattle, meat (food), fruit, honey, oil, wine, family etc. The Israelites were to put God first in all things.

Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

See other mentions of FIRSTFRUITS in: Exodus 23:19, Exodus 34:22, Exodus 34:26, Leviticus 2:12, Leviticus 2:14, Leviticus 23:10, Leviticus 23:17, Leviticus 23:20, Numbers 18:12, Numbers 28:26 and
Deuteronomy 26:10

An example of this is found in :
2 Kings 4:42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
Other examples are found in: 2 Chronicles 31:5, Nehemiah 10:35,
Nehemiah 10:37, Nehemiah 12:44 and Nehemiah 13:31

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

More Old Testament references to understand First Fruits: Jeremiah 2:3,
Ezekiel 20:40 and Ezekiel 44:30
Ezekiel 48:14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.

The Apostle Paul used the teaching of firstfruit to illustration the believer’s relationship to God:
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1 Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

James writing to Jewish Believer’s:
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

The 144,000 are the firstfruits during the Tribulation.
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

The feasts given to Israel were given to teach Spiritual Truths, then and now.

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SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

These two men are perhaps the greatest spiritual leaders the world has ever seen. Moses delivered the Law to the Jews (Exodus 21:1) and Paul brought the gospel of the Grace of God to the Gentiles (Acts 20:24).

MOSES was chosen by GOD to lead the Jewish Nation to serve God.

NUMBERS 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
DEUTERNOMY 4:1-2 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
MARK 1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
MARK 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
MATTHEW 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
DEUTERNOMY 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
DEUTERNOMY 4:14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
EXODUS 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: …
NUMBERS 12:2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. NUMBERS 12:6-9 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth,…

PAUL was chosen by GOD to offer salvation to the Gentiles.

ACTS 22:17-18 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
ACTS 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
ROMANS 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
GALATIANS 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
EPHESIANS 3:1-4 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
1 TIMOTHY 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
GALATIANS 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1 CORINTHIANS 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 THESOLONIANS 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
GALATIANS 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:2-3 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Law verses Grace

GALATIANS 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

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a member of the people and cultural community whose traditional religion is Judaism and who trace their origins through the ancient Hebrew people of Israel to Abraham.
The word JEW is only used in the Old Testament 12 times, and it first appears in the book of ESTHER where it is used 10 times. In each case it refers to Mordecai and his people:

2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
6:10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
8:7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
9:31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

The last two occurrences of the word are found in Jeremiah and Zechariah,
That the word JEW and Hebrew are synonymous is seen:
Jeremiah 34:9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

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a member of the people and cultural community whose traditional religion is Judaism and who trace their origins through the ancient Hebrew people of Israel to Abraham.

The word JEW(S) appears in the New Testament 28 times, and each time it refers to an individual or group of people. It appears in the Gospels only 3 times. Each time referring to the Lord Jesus.

John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
 John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

And in the book of Acts 9 times. Each time referring to an individual or group of people. ACTS:

10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.              

The last 16 times the term is used is found in the epistles written by the apostle Paul, the Jew.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:9-10 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

1 Corinthians 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

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When Jesus sent forth His 12 apostles he gave them instructions NOT to deal with Gentiles:
Matthew 10:5-6   These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And during his ministry he spoke with a woman of Canaan (gentile) seeking healing for her daughter telling her he was here for the house of Israel (Jews only).

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
After the resurrection, His apostles continued only to going to the house of Israel (Jews) only:
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
After Saul’s conversion (and he became Paul) he would go to Jewish synagogues to present Jesus as the messiah, but as they would not receive him he turned to the Gentiles and started the Church.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

From then on, both Jew and Gentile, to be saved, had to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

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My daughter-in-law wrote this to a Jewish friend. I thought it good to share it:   

A Letter to a Jewish Friend:                                      

Suzanne, just to clarify, everything I’m sharing is all Scripture-based.  I’m happy you’ll be able to look things up for yourself.  I’ve attached two documents along with this and hope you find them helpful.  One is a chart my father-in-law put together of a bird’s eye view of the Bible.  The second is Law and Grace by Scofield, a great Bible scholar and teacher.  He says what I was trying to in a much more eloquent way, but I encourage you not to take his word for it (which I kind of doubt you will….SMILE), but look up everything he references. 

What I hope God reveals to you is that the layer is LAW and NOT Jesus.  The law condemns us, but Jesus sets us free.  Without looking at the entire Bible, it’s difficult to understand God’s overall plan and hard to address your comment “if the Messiah has already come then what are we still doing here?”  I can’t prove to you the Bible is true any more than you can prove to an atheist that God is real.  My prayer is that you will read the entire Bible and seek God’s truth.

Additionally, there is a passage in Exodus when God is about to give Moses the Ten Commandments.  The Israelites actually hear God’s voice.  They were so terrified that they said to Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”  The Israelites didn’t want direct access to God.  God used prophets, priests, judges, and even allowed them kings at their request.  They wanted layers between them and God and wanted to avoid dealing with God directly.

I would encourage you to read through Genesis chapter 3 regarding the “her seed” comment made by God to the serpent.  You mentioned that a Jewish woman gets her identity from her mother, but Adam and Eve were not Jewish.  Race did not happen until the Tower of Babel, and God had not set aside Israel as His chosen people at that time.  Also, Adam and Eve were the only two humans, so it wouldn’t have been necessary for God to make such a distinction as Eve had no options BUT Adam as the father of her offspring.  The comment references “her seed” because Jesus would be virgin born and not have a biological human father.  Otherwise, God created Adam first and should have said, “I’ll put enmity between thy seed and Adam’s seed.”  I think there’s only one other time in the Bible that “her seed” is used when God is speaking directly to Rebekah.  Therefore, this is a very specific and unique reference by God.

Regarding the Messiah, I reviewed the website your rabbi recommended.  For convenience, it says: “The moshiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5).  The moshiach is often referred to as “moshiach ben David” (moshiach, son of David).  He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5).  He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example.  He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel.  He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15).  But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.  It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the moshiach.  If the time is right for the messianic age within that person’s lifetime, then that person will be the moshiach.  But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach.”  However, if you look up all three passages, you will see that “Branch” and “King” are capitalized.  Capitalization in the Bible is denoting God or Deity, not man.

⇛ continue reading Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 2
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