Defining the terms “Jew” & “Gentile”

Since we have already defined the word “Israel”, it is only fitting that we understand what it means to be a “Jew” or a “Gentile” as per the definition found in the Scriptures.

Who is a Jew?
The word Jew means “of Judah” or Descendant of “Judah” (1 of the 12 sons of Jacob).
Strong’s Hebrew Concordance – H3064 – יהוּדי – yehûdı̂y – yeh-hoo-dee’
Descendant of Jehudah (that is, Judah)

2 of the 12 tribes of Israel (Namely Judah & Benjamin) were in the House/Kingdom of Judah(1Kings 12:23) after the Division of Israel (1 Kings 11 onwards)

Later people coming from the House of Judah, even if they were from the Tribe of Benjamin, were known as Jews. (Esther 2:5,6)
Paul called himself a Jew, (Acts 21:39) but he was from the tribe of Benjamin (Rom 11:1)

The House of Judah was the only 2 tribes left in Judea when Jesus was on earth, as the other 10 tribes were scattered after being taken to Assyria. (2Kings 17:5-23, Eze 28:25) We will do a separate study on the Two Houses of Israel, in the near future.

Peter was called a Jew (Gal 2:14). Yeshua(Hebrew name of Jesus), His disciples and everyone living in Judea were called Jews (John 4:9)

In the last days people will ask the Jews about their God (Zec 8:23)

Judaism is “the Religion of the Jews”, which Paul claims He was a part of before, as a Pharisee. (Gal 1:13,14).

Not all Jews are followers of Judaism. There are Jews who believe in the “Oral Law” and the ways of the Pharisees called “Orthodox Jews”. There are Jews who believe in only the Old Testament(Tanakh) called Karaite Jews. Then there are Jews who believe in Yeshua as Savior, called “Messianic Jews”. The 1st Century Church of the New Testament was also called a Jewish Sect, called “The Way” at Paul’s time.(Acts 24:14,22, Acts 9:2)

Jews are only part of Israel, but all of Israel are not Jews.
The “Israel” mentioned in the Scriptures is not a country or a Land. The land given to Israel was called the “Land of Israel”.

Who is a Gentile?
There are few words in Greek, which have been interchangeably used as Greek & Gentile in the English King James Version Bible

G1672 – Ἕλλην – Hellēn – hel’-lane
From G1671; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek speaking person, especially a non-Jew: – Gentile, Greek.

The Places G1672 is used in the KJV Bible is given below
It is translated as Gentile in Joh_7:35, Rom_2:9, Rom_3:9, 1Co_10:32, 1Co_12:13,
It is translated as Greek in Joh_12:20, Act_14:1, Act_16:1, Act_16:3, Act_17:4, Act_18:17, Act_19:10, Act_19:17, Act_20:21, Act_21:28, Rom_1:14, Rom_1:16, Rom_2:10, Rom_10:12, 1Co_1:22, 1Co_1:23, 1Co_1:24, Gal_2:3, Gal_3:28, Col_3:11

G1675 – Ἑλληνιστής – Hellēnistēs – hel-lay-nis-tace’
From a derivative of G1672; a Hellenist or Greek speaking Jew: – Grecian.

The places G1675 is used are Act_6:1, Act_9:29 & Act_11:2

G1484 – ἔθνος – ethnos – eth’-nos
Probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): – Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

G1484 has been translated as Nations in Mat_24:9, Mat_24:14, Mat_25:32, Mat_28:19, Mar_11:17, Mar_13:10, Luk_12:30, Luk_21:24, Luk_21:25, Act_13:19, Act_14:16, Act_17:26, Rom_1:5, Rom_4:17, Rom_4:18, Rom_16:26, Gal_3:8, Rev_2:26, Rev_7:9, Rev_10:11, Rev_11:9, Rev_11:18, Rev_12:5, Rev_13:7, Rev_14:8, Rev_15:4, Rev_16:19, Rev_17:15, Rev_18:3, Rev_18:23, Rev_19:15, Rev_20:3, Rev_20:8, Rev_21:24, Rev_21:26, Rev_22:2

G1484 has been translated as Gentiles in Mat_4:15, Mat_6:32, Mat_10:5, Mat_10:18, Mat_12:18, Mat_12:21, Mat_20:19, Mat_20:25, Mar_10:33, Mar_10:42, Luk_2:32, Luk_18:32, Luk_21:24, Luk_22:25, Act_4:27, Act_7:45, Act_9:15, Act_10:45, Act_11:1, Act_11:18, Act_13:42,
Act_13:46, Act_13:47, Act_13:48, Act_14:2, Act_14:5, Act_14:27, Act_15:3, Act_15:7, Act_15:12,
Act_15:14, Act_15:17, Act_15:19, Act_15:23, Act_18:6, Act_21:1, Act_21:19, Act_21:21, Act_21:25, Act_22:21, Act_26:17, Act_26:20, Act_26:23, Act_28:28, Rom_1:13, Rom_2:14, Rom_2:24, Rom_3:29, Rom_9:24, Rom_9:30, Rom_11:11, Rom_11:12, Rom_11:13, Rom_11:25, Rom_15:9, Rom_15:10, Rom_15:11, Rom_15:12, Rom_15:16, Rom_15:18, Rom_15:27, Rom_16:4, 1Co_5:1, 1Co_10:20, 1Co_12:2, Gal_2:2, Gal_2:8, Gal_2:12, Gal_2:14, Gal_2:15, Gal_3:14, Eph_2:11, Eph_3:1, Eph_3:6, Eph_3:8, Eph_4:17, Col_1:27, 1Th_2:16, 1Th_4:5, 1Ti_2:7, 1Ti_3:16, 2Ti_1:11, 2Ti_4:17, 1Pe_2:12, 1Pe_4:3, 3Jn_1:7, Rev_11:2

Are we Gentiles?
We WERE Gentiles till we accepted Yeshua as Savior (1Cor 12:2, Eph 2:11).
Gentiles do not know God (1Thess 4:5). Gentiles are the ones who seek worldly things such as food and clothing (Mat 6:32)
Peter tells the believers to be honest among the gentiles they live around (1Pet 2:11,12)
Israel is scattered among gentiles (Joh 7:35, Hos 8:8, ) Gentiles have different Gods and sacrifices(1Cor 10:20)
Gentiles got converted (Act 15:3) God picked a people out for Himself out of the gentiles (Act 15:14)

The above instances show a clear separation between Gentile, and believers in Almighty God. The Old Testament also agrees with this concept, saying a Gentile who lives among Israel is to be considered as one born in the land (Lev 19:34). When someone becomes a “Christian” (one who imitates THE Anointed one), he is no more the Old Gentile who dwells in the Gentile Ways, He is a new Creation. One who imitates God’s ways, God’s people. He is grafted in to God’s people Israel (Rom 11:16-26). The title “Gentile Christian” is an oxymoron, as a “Gentile” is one who does not know God and a “Christian” is one who imitates THE Anointed one. Effectively, “Gentile Christian” means “One who imitates THE Anointed one, who does not know God”.

Remember, that the Good Shepherd has only one flock (John 10:16). If God has said that Israel is His people/His flock forever(2Sam 7:24, 1Chr 17:22, 2Chr 20:7, Psa 125:2), can Gentile Christians be another flock?

Whether we call ourselves Gentiles or whether we try to separate ourselves far off, from the Jews, one thing is Clear. We have to shape our ways into God’s People. We cannot act like Gentiles. We must start living how He wanted His people, “Israel” to live. That is for sure!

Who were the Pharisees?

One of the recurring main characters throughout the New testament is the group called “Pharisees“. Common misconceptions regarding this sect of Judaism has led to a lot of confusion in Christianity.  The so called “Vipers” or “Hypocrites” according to Yeshua (Hebrew name of Jesus), represent the Old Testament and God’s “so-called” archaic Laws in lots of Christian minds. If you believe that the Pharisees were the ones who kept God’s Commandments perfectly, and Yeshua came and loosened these archaic Laws, I would like to showcase some “irrefutable evidence” from the Word of God to suggest otherwise.

Let’s start by asking a few questions about the pharisees? Who were they? Were they the ones who obeyed God’s Commandments & Laws in Yeshua’s time? Did Yeshua really condemn them because they were keeping God’s Commandments? Was Yeshua getting rid of the Commandments of God along with the Pharisees who kept them?

Let’s review some facts about the pharisees first, using the Bible as our guide

• The Pharisees were a sect of Judaism – Acts 26:5
• The Romans had given them the power and place/authority that they held – John 11:48
• They had power over the Synagogues – John 12:42
• They had their own officers and guard – John 7:32; 18:3 / Mat 26:65,66
• Some pharisees wanted to protect Yeshua – Luke 13:31
• Some pharisees were waiting to accuse Yeshua – Luke 11:53,54
• They had disciples of their own – Mark 2:18
• They traveled to make disciples  – Mat 23:15
• They did not keep God’s total Law – Mat 23:23
• They had their own law/doctrine/teaching – Mat 16:12, Mar 7:8, John 7:51
• Their disciples had power to cast out evil spirits – Mat 12:27
• They had many customs/traditions like washing of hands – Mark 7:3,5, Luke 11:38
• Paul was a pharisee – Philip 3:5, Acts 23:6; 26:5
• There was a division amongst them about Yeshua being righteous or sinful – John 9:16
• The 1st century church contained believers who were from this sect – Acts 15:5

Looking at the above scriptures, a few things should become clear to you:

1. Not all Pharisees were hypocrites. Some even believed Yeshua was Messiah(Acts 15:5)
2. Pharisees obeyed something other than God’s Law/Commandments, often called “Traditions of the elders” or “Traditions of men” (Mat 15:2,3,6/ Mar 7:3,5,8,9,13/ Gal 1:14/ 1Pet 1:18)

What proof is there to say that they did not keep God’s Commandments?
Let’s read Mat 15:1-20. The pharisees questioned why Jesus’ disciples did not eat with washed hands(Mat 15:1,2). Jesus replied by how they were breaking GOD’S LAW, by keeping the TRADITIONS OF MEN(Mat 15:3) and adding to God’s Law. This whole event revolved around the washing of Hands, and whether or not it makes you unclean(Mat 15:20). Mar 7 talks about the same event. The Pharisees asked why Jesus’ disciple are not keeping the “traditions of the elders“(Mar 7:5). They laid aside the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD to keep the TRADITIONS OF MEN(Mar 7:8,9). They broke GOD’S COMMANDMENTS because of their TRADITIONS(Mar 7:13). Paul kept these traditions before he beleived in Yeshua(Gal 1:14)

The Pharisees believed in another Law, other than the written Law of Moses, called the “Oral Law”. They believed that the “Oral Law” was passed down from Moses to Joshua, and to the Judges after them, and that the Pharisees were the keepers of this extra Law. This “Oral Law” is what was called “The Tradition of the elders” at that time, mainly because each Rabbi/Teacher of the Sect of Pharisees would teach the Oral Law to his students “Orally”, and these Teachers of the Law could add to this Law. This “Oral Law” has now been written down, and is available as a book called the “Talmud”. You can read more about the “Talmud” in any Encyclopedia. The Orthodox Jews, who you see clad in black with hats and beards, live by this “Oral Law” additionally to the “Written Law of Moses”. Even today, they do not eat unless they keep the tradition of washing the hands.(The “washing of the hands” is not in the Old Testament. It is not part of God’s Law). And their are many traditions like this, that I will not go into. If you want to learn more about the Pharisees and their traditions, I recommend that you watch this video. The Orthodox Jews could be called the Pharisees of the modern era, because they are keeping the same traditions. A Rabbi or teacher of the sect of the pharisees could make a law that would be added onto the “Oral Law”, making it a tradition or what they would call a “Law”. They believed that they had the authority to make and change Laws as they pleased, and that not even God or Prophets like Elijah could stand up against them. (I highly recommend that you watch the video linked above, to understand more about this Oral Law and who the Pharisees really were).

Did they really teach something different or in addition to God’s Commandments?
They taught doctrines of men INSTEAD OF the commandments of God (Mat 15:6,9, Mar 7:7)

But did they break and teach to break God’s Commandments?
Let us go back to Matthew 15 to see how they added to God’s Commandments.
In Mat 15:3-6 and Mar 7:10-13  Yeshua asked the Pharisees, Why do you disobey the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses his father or mother, let him die. But you say, Whoever that says to his father or his mother, It is a gift/Corban(Meaning an Offering), by which you profit, he does not have to honor his father or his mother, he is free. In this way, you have made the commandment of God “of none effect by” your tradition. What was Yeshua trying to explain here? He said that God’s Commandment was clear. We have to honor our parents. How do you honor your parents? By taking care of them and bringing honor to them by who you are. But what were the Pharisees tradition saying? A person could tell their parents, that whatever he uses to take care of the parents, is a gift/offering to God, and not have to take care of his parents. Has God ever said that we should give offerings to Him while our parents suffer? Does giving to God free us of taking care of our parents? The Pharisees had said that the offering was more important than taking care of your own parents. This is how they broke God’s Law. By adding to it and taking away from it. Which God specifically said not to do(Deut 4:2, 12:32, Prov 30:6). This is how they made God’s Commandments “of none effect” or worthless. By putting “Traditions of Men” above “God’s Commandments”.

The main thing to understand, is that the teachings of the Pharisees, was not the Commandments of God.

Yeshua taught to obey God’s Commandments.(Mat 5:19, 19:17, Joh 12:50). He also taught His disciples to beware of the Doctrines/teachings of the Pharisees.(Mat 16:11,12)

Some think that the “Washing of hands” is in the Old Testament. And Yeshua is abolishing those Old Laws. I would ask such a person to find exactly where the “Washing of hands” is mentioned in the Old Testament before you make up your mind.

Note:
I have purposely kept the argument between Yeshua and the Pharisees about the Sabbath (Luke 6, Mat 12, Mar 2:23), out of this study. (This will be covered in a Study that is done solely on the Sabbath, in the near future) Though, I would like to point out, that just like the “washing of hands”, another one of the Laws written in the “Talmud”, the “Oral Law” of the Pharisees, is specifically how one should not even pluck corn on the Sabbath Day.

In conclusion, I hope you have adequately understood the following:
The pharisees did not adhere to God’s Commandments.
They did not represent the Old Testament or God’s Laws.
Yeshua’s arguments with the pharisees does not mean He was going against Gods’ Law.
The pharisees had a Law of their own.
They broke God’s Commandments through keeping their own Laws

Even though the objective of today’s study is not to find answers to whether Yeshua freed us from the Old Testament Laws or whether He upheld God’s Law, I would note, learning who The Pharisees were, is one of the keys to getting rid of a lot of misunderstandings about Yeshua, His Teachings & God’s Commandments.