Zone1 What does The Chosen People actually mean?

[jwoodie]

I have been watching the TV series Chosen and have questions about 1st Century Jewish life and beliefs:
1. What does "the chosen people" actually mean? Was it a special covenant with God that excluded all other people?
2. Were there really 500+ rules that had to be followed on pain of banishment or death?
3. What happened to false prophets who claimed to be the Messiah? Were they all killed?
4. Setting aside the alleged divinity of Jesus, are current Jewish beliefs more in line with modern Christian values or ancient Jewish rules?

 

[Crepitus]

It means they think they are better/more important than you.

 

[hobelim]

1. What does "the chosen people" actually mean? Was it a special covenant with God that excluded all other people?

They were chosen by God and given the Law as "a light to the nations" to make his name known in the world. It is important to note that according to scripture they were not chosen because of any merit of their own. They were chosen for this specific task simply because God loved them.

2. Were there really 500+ rules that had to be followed on pain of banishment or death?

Many of the Laws reflect the contemporary concerns of unknown authors over thousands of years. That being said, the death, a curse consequent to defying the Law, is not physical in nature

There was never any human element necessary to either judge or enforce the Divine commands. They apply to all people on earth for good or evil, just like cause and effect, whatever they believe

 

[jwoodie]

They were chosen by God and given the Law as "a light to the nations" to make his name known in the world. It is important to note that according to scripture they were not chosen because of any merit of their own. They were chosen for this specific task simply because God loved them.

Why did God love them more than others?

Many of the Laws reflect the contemporary concerns of unknown authors over thousand years. That being said, "the death", a curse, consequent to defying the Law is not physical in nature.

So stoning is just a biblical myth?

There was never any human element needed to either judge or enforce the Divine commands.

What about the Pharisees and Sadducees? Did they not have any religious authority?

They apply to all people on earth for good or evil, just like cause and effect, whatever they believe

So did the 500+ rules apply to all people on earth?

3. What happened to false prophets who claimed to be the Messiah? Were they all killed?
4. Setting aside the alleged divinity of Jesus, are current Jewish beliefs more in line with modern Christian values or ancient Jewish rules?

 

[The Irish Ram]

God has a covenant with His friend Abraham. That is the alpha and the omega of who and why the Jews are the Chosen people.
He doesn't love them more than others, they are not more holy than others, they simply are part of a promise, and God keeps His promises.

 

[fncceo]

It means they think they are better/more important than you.

No, just better than you

 

[hobelim]

Why did God love them more than others?

Maybe because they were stubborn. Maybe because they valued truth, education, and sanity?

Who can say?

 

[hobelim]

So stoning is just a biblical myth?

No, people actually did this. Words can have two meanings. They failed to get the right meaning.

 

[hobelim]

What about the Pharisees and Sadducees? Did they not have any religious authority?

Right. They were pretending to "see", understand the Law.

"If you were blind you would not be guilty of sin but because you say, "We see" your guilt remains"

 

[Carl in Michigan]

It means they think they are better/more important than you.

You have no idea what you're talking about about..

There is a vast difference between the "chosen people" and the "master race"

 

[hobelim]

So did the 500+ rules apply to all people on earth?

Yes. It is a violation of Divine Law under penalty of death, to eat the flesh of unclean creatures THAT DO NOT RUMINATE. If you do you will become an unclean creature that cannot ruminate.

It doesn't matter who you are, whether Jewish or Gentile, a believer or an atheist, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, healthy or unhealthy, cop or criminal, gay or straight or otherwise.

If you don't believe me ask ding who prides himself on "just believing" in the ridiculous (without thinking) a rational question. He will be more than happy to demonstrate for everyone with eyes the terrifying and deeply disturbing death consequent for setting the Divine commands aside.

 

[jwoodie]

I have been watching the TV series Chosen and have questions about 1st Century Jewish life and beliefs:
1. What does "the chosen people" actually mean? Was it a special covenant with God that excluded all other people?
2. Were there really 500+ rules that had to be followed on pain of banishment or death?
3. What happened to false prophets who claimed to be the Messiah? Were they all killed?
4. Setting aside the alleged divinity of Jesus, are current Jewish beliefs more in line with modern Christian values or ancient Jewish rules?

5. Is claiming to be the fulfillment of biblical prophesy still considered to be unforgivable blasphemy?

 

[Carl in Michigan]

5. Is claiming to be the fulfillment of biblical prophesy still considered to be unforgivable blasphemy?

Not if it's true. But it got Jesus killed anyway

 

[Carl in Michigan]

The term "chosen people refers to both Israel and Judah (the Jews).

God's covenant with Israel is divided into two parts -- the Birthright and the Scepter promise.

The Nations of Israel were/are the recipients of the Birthright Promise. The Jews (Judah) carry the Scepter Promise. The Messiah was promised through the Jews. Jesus fulfilled that promise.

This is what "The Chosen People" means

 

[The Irish Ram]

Yes. It is a violation of Divine Law under penalty of death, to eat the flesh of unclean creatures THAT DO NOT RUMINATE. If you do you will become an unclean creature that cannot ruminate.

It doesn't matter who you are, whether Jewish or Gentile, a believer or an atheist, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, healthy or unhealthy, cop or criminal, gay or straight or otherwise.

If you don't believe me ask ding who prides himself on "just believing" in the ridiculous (without thinking) a rational question. He will be more than happy to demonstrate for everyone with eyes the terrifying and deeply disturbing death consequent for setting the Divine commands aside.

Christ fulfilled the law. And gave us a new, better covenant. His Divine Law is, Love one another and your Father. Do that and you have fulfilled the Law.


Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant…
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, but to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

 

[hobelim]

Christ fulfilled the law. And gave us a new, better covenant. His Divine Law is, Love one another and your Father. Do that and you have fulfilled the Law.

The "new" covenant is the same as the "old". To fulfill the Law is to comply with its demands.

By saying "eat my flesh" Jesus was teaching that the subject of kosher law is not food and never was. People turned aside from THE WAY Moses originally taught to follow the Law after he died so the only thing about the Law that became obsolete after this revelation of Jesus was the wrong way to follow the Law, what Jesus called the traditions of men, now known as the talmud.

Jesus said the Law will remain in effect and in full force for as long as heaven and earth endure.

 

[The Irish Ram]

By saying "eat my flesh" Jesus was teaching that the subject of kosher law is not food and never was

If the covenant was the same, Christ would have said so. Instead, He said the opposite. New means not existing before. It doesn't mean same as before.

And new was referenced a lot, even in the verse you referred to. No need to interpret what He meant. He tells us what and why.
He told His disciples to remember Him when they broke bread and drank the wine. We have replaced that with saying grace before we break bread. We need to remember Him and the sacrifice He made to offer us a new covenant. A piece of toast and a cup of coffee will suffice, as long as the point is remembering Him and His sacrifice.


Luke 22: 19-20 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood".

 

[Carl in Michigan]

The covenant made with his church does not replace the covenant with Israel. They serve two different purposes. The covenant with Israel was NATIONAL only. The covenant with the Church is a spiritual covenant

 

[Crepitus]

No, just better than you

"they think" not "they are".

 

[Crepitus]

You have no idea what you're talking about about..

Yeah, I do.

Deal with it.