What do Jews believe? What is Judaism?

TL;DR:

: Jews are God’s chosen people with a rich religious, cultural, and ethnic heritage, but they do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Judaism centers on the Hebrew Bible, ethical living, and the hope of a future Messiah, while Christians believe Jesus fulfills that promise.

what does the bible say?

According to Jewish sources, Judaism was the first great faith to believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:5). The Jews use the Hebrew Bible, which contains the same Old Testament books as the Protestant Bible but arranged differently. The Old Testament records the Jewish story through Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:19, 28:13-14), Jacob's twelve sons who became the leaders of Israel's twelve tribes (Genesis 49), Moses leading Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3, 12, 14), generations of judges and kings (Judges; 1 Samuel 8:5-7; 1 Kings; 2 Kings), and times of conquest from outside nations (2 Kings 17:6, 25:1-21).

The Old Testament also contains many messianic prophecies (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2), which the New Testament shows that Jesus fulfilled. The book of Acts indicates that Christianity began as a sect within Judaism (Acts 24:14). Jesus and many of the first Christians were Jews (Matthew 1:1). Some early Jewish-Christians continued to practice Jewish traditions along with their Christian beliefs (Acts 3:1). However, disputes between Jewish religious leaders and Christians about whether Jesus is the Messiah and the implications of that belief, as well as political changes, eventually resulted in Christianity being viewed as a separate religion (John 9:22; Acts 4:1-3). The two most striking differences in belief between Judaism and Christianity include views of Jesus and of Scripture. On the whole, Jews believe in a Messiah, or at least a Messianic Age, that has yet to come (John 5:39-40). Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have long sought (Matthew 16:15-16; John 1:41). Second, Jews accept only the Old Testament writings (which they call the Hebrew Bible) as their inspired texts (Romans 3:1-2). Christians accept the sixty-six books of the Bible, Old and New Testament, as the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:15-16). Christians today should see the Jews as part of our mission field (Matthew 28:19-20).

from the old testament

Judaism's journey began when God promised Abram, "I will make of you a great nation" (Genesis 12:1-3). God renamed Abram to Abraham, meaning “father of many.” Genesis records Abraham’s calling to a new land where God would bless him and make his name great.
Much of Judaism believes and practices the thirteen principles of faith by Maimonides (AD 1135—1204). One of these is God is the Jewish shema from Deuteronomy 6:5, that the Lord is one.

from the new testament

While Jews and Christians share some beliefs and much history, they continue to stand as two distinct religions since Judaism rejects Jesus as the Messiah and rejects the New Testament as God’s Word. Those Jews interested in Christian beliefs must face Nicodemus’ question to Jesus: “How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4).
Jesus told the religious leaders of the day that though they knew the Scriptures, they failed to recognize Him as the Messiah: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). As Paul noted about the Jews of his day, “they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).
Paul also noted that what constitutes God’s people isn’t based on genealogy but on belief in Christ as Lord and Savior: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Christians are called to share the hope within them to all people, including those of a Jewish background (1 Peter 3:15-16; Romans 1:16).

implications for today

What is a Jew? Is it a religion? An ethnic group? A culture? Is it the nation of Israel? Or is it a family as some rabbis say? Maybe it’s all five. For believers today, though, focusing on Jewish religion can help us to witness to those who haven’t drunk from the life-giving water that is Christ. Knowing their beliefs can help. Though different varieties and beliefs within Judaism exist, Maimonides’ (AD 1135—1204) list of thirteen principles of Jewish faith helps us narrow it down. Jews generally believe in God’s existence, uniqueness, oneness, incorporeality, eternality, and omniscience. They believe prayer should be directed to God alone. In terms of Scripture, they accept the written and oral Torah, the words of the prophets, and consider Moses the greatest prophet. Jews believe God will reward the good and punish the wicked, that the Messiah (or Messianic Age) is yet to come, and that the dead will be resurrected.

Christians today can cull from that list to start conversations with Jewish friends, noting our commonalities to lead them to Jesus as Messiah and Lord.

“What is a Jew?” is perhaps best answered by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans: “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). May we all be “Jews” in this sense.

understand

Jews are God’s chosen people with a rich religious and cultural heritage.
Judaism centers on the Hebrew Bible, ethical living, and a future Messiah, but rejects Jesus.
Christianity began within Judaism but recognizes Jesus as Messiah and continued with the New Testament.

reflect

How does knowing the beliefs and heritage of the Jewish people influence the way you share your faith?
How can you respect Jewish beliefs while pointing to Jesus as the Messiah?
How do you personally understand Paul’s teaching that true “Jewishness” is a matter of the heart and spirit not heritage or tradition?

engage

How can understanding the similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity shape our approach to sharing our faith?
How did the early church’s Jewish roots affect the spread of the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles?
How might Christians today bridge the gap of Jewish faith practices while still pointing people to Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy?