Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

Jews, Judaism And Christianity - Part 5 of 5

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2015-10-05

Synopsis: In this final installment, Pastor Weaver argues that the term 'Jews' in the New Testament often refers not to all Judeans but to a ruling elite or power cartel—chief priests, Pharisees, Sadducees—who opposed Christ and the apostles. He traces how God-ordained feasts became 'the Jews' feasts' through human traditions, and shows from multiple passages that this clique persecuted believers, controlled religious authority, and sought to kill Jesus and Paul. Weaver draws a parallel to a modern elite that he claims controls media, promotes moral decay, and opposes true Christianity, urging believers to find freedom only in Christ and His Word.

[John Weaver] Open our Bibles to John chapter 8 and we'll read verses 30 through 32 and I think We'll begin there. I'll take a few moments to review. This is the fifth and final installment of The brief series on Jews Judaism and Christianity so John chapter 8 notice verse 30 And as he spake these words many believed on him Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him if you continue in my word Then are you my disciples indeed

[John Weaver] and you shall know the truth. I The truth shall make you free now. We've covered a lot of ground in the last four messages However, we've got an awful lot of ground to cover today So you need to hold on to your seats and keep your fingers limber because we'll be turning to an awful lot of scriptures as well If you'll remember in the first message, I pointed out how that Jesus Christ was a Judean in the sense that he was from the tribe of Judah.

[John Weaver] Maybe I should say it more correctly. He was a Judahite and not a Jew because Judaism is a religion. And of course, our Lord was only born in the land of Judea, stayed there less than two years. He was conceived in Nazareth and raised and lived in Nazareth, which is the northern kingdom, not the southern kingdom. He was indeed of the tribe of Judah, but he was not a Jew. He was a Judahite.

[John Weaver] Moreover, I pointed out in the second message how all of the apostles, with the exception of Judas, were Galileans. Judas was the only one from the land of Judea. He's from Kerioth, which is south of Hebron toward Edom. And certainly when you get to the book of Acts chapter 2, they ask, are not these all Galileans, which we hear every man in his own tongue. In the third message, I pointed out how the Judaizers were individuals who tried to mix law and grace.

[John Weaver] They're the ones who said it's all right to believe in Jesus, but if you really wanted to be saved, then you had to be circumcised and you had to keep the tradition of the elders and all this kind of stuff. I also showed you how that a believer Even a non Jew can act like a Jew because that is how why Paul? confronted Peter in Galatians chapter 2 and of course to become a Jew is to fulfill the Traditions and the ceremonies and the customs etc and of course when Paul confronted Peter he nailed him to the wall Because the issue of the gospel was at stake In the fourth message, I showed you how God addressed his people.

[John Weaver] Neither God nor any of the disciples ever began their messages by saying, hey, you Jews. Obviously, our Lord talked about the people or Israel. And then when the apostles preached, they referred to them either as the people or men and brethren of Israel. Let me speak to you, et cetera. So obviously, They did not refer to them as Jews. You have to remember that only the southern kingdom were the people referred to as Jews.

[John Weaver] We saw that in 2nd Kings chapter 16 in verse 6. There were, you could say it like this, there were Judahites that were Israelites, but not all Israelites were Judahites because many of the Israelites lived in other places in the land as well. There's also a distinction in the Bible between the people and the Jews. Let me just point it out like this. The Jews, the group that I'm talking about right now, basically became a law unto themselves and they changed the worship of God. They even changed The ordinances of God and they basically became a wall unto themselves so they took the ceremonies of God and Perverted them for instance. Let me show you look in your Bibles if you would to the book of John chapter 2 and Then we're going to the book of Exodus and then to the book of Leviticus John chapter 2 and notice if you would please verse 13 John 2 in verse 13 Here's a very interesting passage, and I'll show you others that have similar wordings.

[John Weaver] But in John 2 and verse 13, the Bible says, And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that? And the Jews' Passover was at hand. So my question is really, when did the Passover Become the Jews Passover if you would look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 12 Exodus chapter 12 Exodus 12 and let's begin reading there in verse 11 Exodus 12 verse 11 notice what the scripture says in God says, and thus shall you eat it with your loins girded and your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover hmm skip down if you would to verse 27 Exodus 12 verse 27 he says again thus you shall say it is a sacrifice of the Lord's Passover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smoked the Egyptians and delivered our houses and the people bowed the head in worship note you shall say it is the Lord's Passover if you look in Leviticus 23 and verse 5 Leviticus 23 in verse 5 In this passage we're told Leviticus 23 verse 5 in the 14th day of the first month that even is the Lord's Passover so somehow

[John Weaver] the Passover is left the Lord and became the Jews Passover. In other words, they manipulated the ordinance. If you look in your Bibles to John chapter 5 and verse 1, I'll give you another illustration. John 5 and verse 1. Notice if you would, we'll then go to John 7, but look in John 5 and verse 1. After this there was a feast of the Jews. Jesus went up to Jerusalem note after this there was a feast of the Jews now look in John 7 if you would and verse 2 John 7 in verse 2 The Bible says now the Jews feast of tabernacles was at hand So how did all of these feasts become the feasts of the Jews? well, if you'd look in your Bibles to the book of Hosea chapter 12 and Hosea chapter 12 and verse 9 Hosea 12 in verse 9 Look what God said Hosea 12 verse 9 verse And he said, I and I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles as in the days of the solemn feast.

[John Weaver] I the Lord thy God will make thee to dwell in tabernacles. In other words, the feast of tabernacles was a feast of the Lord. It was that which he ordained. In the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi, the book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16, watch it. The book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16. And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem even shall go from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of the tabernacles."

[John Weaver] So all of these feasts were God's feasts. He ordained them. He is the one that instituted them. He is the one that said how they were to be observed.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 15 and I hope now that you can begin to understand what our Lord is saying to these Jews. Now I want you to look in Matthew chapter 15 beginning there with verse 1. Matthew 15 verse 1. Note if you would who came. Matthew 15 verse 1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?

[John Weaver] For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother, and he that curseth father and mother, let him die of the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and on or not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God, of none effect by your tradition.

[John Weaver] Now watch carefully, you hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." So we see that these feasts and these ceremonies that belong to the Lord now became the feasts and the ceremonies of the Jews.

[John Weaver] So, you have to ask, how did the changes occur? Now, I want to answer that by pointing out a new way that the word Jews is used in scripture. I hinted at it last week. I even said it, but I'm going to show it to you with a multiplicity of verses today. Usually when we talk about the Jews, we're talking about someone either from the tribe of Judah, or someone from the land of Judea, or someone from the southern kingdom, or we're talking about someone who has embraced Judaism, which is the Jews religion according to Paul in Galatians chapter 1. But I also want to point out that sometimes the word Jews is used in the New Testament to indicate what you and I would call a ruling elite or a power-hungry, power-mad cartel. Wow. And you're going to find that these were differentiated from the people who lived in the land. For instance, let's begin with John chapter 1 and verse 19. Now, I read this passage last week, but I'm just going to use this as a springboard and begin to show you other passages.

[John Weaver] But notice if you would in John chapter 1 and verse 19. The Bible says, and this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou?

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note how this phrase is used. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him. Well, I pointed out from the book of Luke chapter 1, John himself was a Judean, that is he lived in the foothills of Judah. Certainly he was the tribe of Levi, that is for sure. His father was a Levite and his mother was a Levite. But they lived in Judah because the father served at the temple and so since he would have been a Judean In the sense that he lived there. Isn't it strange? It says this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites so you have to ask yourself this question if Did every Judean have the power and the authority to send priests and Levites to question someone?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. The only one who had the power and authority to send priests and Levites would have been the high priest or the ruling class or the ruling clique at that particular time. And by the way, There was a click in the priesthood, just like there was a click in the Pharisees and a click in the Sanhedrin. I'll show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4 and verse 6. Acts 4 and verse 6. Interestingly, Acts 4 verse 6. Watch. You talking about nepotism? You talking about a click? Here it is. Acts 4 verse 6 and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem Look, here's this whole power click coming together in And they're asking the apostles, by what authority and by what power and by what

[John Weaver] name have you done this? But note if you would here, here is Annas and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and note the phrase, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. Everybody in this little click came together now I want you to turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 2 in John chapter 2 our Lord Cleanses the temple and I want you to look in John chapter 2 beginning there with verse 18 After our Lord has Thrown over the money changers tables And drove them out of the temple Look in verse 18 then answered the Jews and said unto him What sign showest thou unto us seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them Destroy this temple and in three days. I'll raise it up Then said the Jews, 46 years was this temple in the building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

[John Weaver] When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them, and they believed the scriptures and the word which Jesus had said. Now, go back to verse 18. After he's overthrown the moneychangers' temple and the tables, the tables, I'm sorry, not the temple, over the money changers tables in the temple and those that sold dove. Then the Jews said unto him, what sign showest thou unto us? Now you would have to ask yourself this question, which Jews? And why are they asking for a sign?

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew 12. You turn there. I want to quote a scripture for you and Explain something as you're turning to Matthew chapter 12 In first Corinthians 1 in verse 22 the Bible says for the Jews require a sign and The Greeks seek after wisdom Now here's my question Did all the Jews require sign Did all Greeks seek after wisdom? No. Not all Jews required a sign.

[John Weaver] It was just the ruling elite. It was the power cartel. Not all Greeks sought after wisdom. It was the philosophers. It was the elite in the Greek lands, but it was not necessarily every Greek. If you will look in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there in verse 38, you will find who it was that required a sign. Matthew 12 verse 38 then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying master We would see a sign from thee But he answered and said unto them an evil and adulterous generation Seek of that for sign and there shall no sign be given to it But the sign of the prophet Jonas now you have to remember I've told you in the last message how that the Sadducees and the Pharisees and Herodians all work together to get rid of Christ and They were the ruling clique.

[John Weaver] There was a group even among these individuals now When our Lord healed a man By the pool of Bethesda that is in John chapter 5 if you will turn their John chapter 5 Our Lord has healed this lame man by the pool of Bethesda and And look if you would what is said in verses 15 and 16. John chapter 5 verses 15 and 16. After he has been healed, the Bible says, the man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. Now, when the man told the Jews, you've got to remember Go back if you would to verse 1 of John chapter 5 After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda having five Porches so Jesus is in Jerusalem, which is in Judea where everybody would be Judeans or Jews and And now the Bible says in verse 15, the man departed and told it to the Jews.

[John Weaver] Well, who did he tell it to? Did he tell it to every Judean? The answer is no. Watch if you would, verse 16. Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. Did every Judean seek to persecute Christ and slay? No. I'll quote the scripture a little bit later, but the Bible says the common people heard him gladly.

[John Weaver] They weren't trying to kill him. It was the powers that be that were trying to kill him and trying to slay him. It's just that simple.

[John Weaver] Now, look if you would please verse 18. Here it is even plainer. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him because he had not only broken the Sabbath, that is their interpretation of it, but also said that God was his father making himself equal with God. So here's this group That is in control that has power and authority that are trying to execute To kill to murder Christ and later on the Apostles as well So turn right on over to John chapter 9 because in John chapter 9 In John chapter 9 our Lord Heals a man who was blind from birth Never before had this been done So in John chapter 9, let's begin reading with verse 13 After our Lord heals the man They brought him to the Pharisees Him that would have for time was blind Remember now the Pharisees Sadducees Herodians. They're all in it together So they brought him to the Pharisees and it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. I Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.

[John Weaver] He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?

[John Weaver] He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews, note this term, but the Jews, now wait a minute, go back if you would to verse 13, they brought to him the Pharisees. brought him to the Pharisees. Now they are called the Jews. Verse 18, But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been born blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. Now watch carefully. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son whom you say was born blind?

[John Weaver] How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, He should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents. He's of age ask him. So let me ask you a question. They brought him to the Pharisees and yet now the Pharisees are called the Jews and now The Jews had already agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Who had the power and the authority to excommunicate and put someone out of the synagogue? Did every Jew have that power and authority?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. The ruler of the synagogue, whoever was in the clique, would have that power and that authority, but not just every individual. So here again, the term Jews is used interchangeably with Pharisees. Sometimes it's used interchangeably with Sadducees or chief priests or elders and scribe. But it's talking about a power elite. It's talking about a cartel. Look in your Bibles to John chapter 19. It's amazing once you begin to see this, how many times you see it in the New Testament. Look in John chapter 19. verses 6 & 7. Christ is before Pilate. Look in verse 5. Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said unto them, Behold a man. Now watch. When the chief priests, therefore, and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Let me ask you look carefully now. Who is it? It's crying out the chief priests and the officers They cry out crucify him crucify him Pilate said to them taking him and crucify him for I find no fault in him the Jews answered him We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself a son of

[John Weaver] God now. Wait a minute Pilate is talking to the chief priests and to the officers and He says take him and crucify him for I find no fault in him the Jews answered Well, who are the Jews? Where they're the same ones in verse 6 of the chief priests and the officers You see how that is being used So the Jews here does not refer to every Judean. It does not refer to every Judahite.

[John Weaver] It's referring to this one little power group that wants our Lord crucified and dead and out of the way. So, obviously, clearly here it is indeed a group. The context demands that the Jews in verse 7 Be equated to the chief priests and the officers in verse 6 because that's who's doing the speaking Look in John chapter 20 and verse 19 John 20 verse 19 Then the same day it even being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews and Came Jesus and stood in the midst and said to them peace be unto you now Let me ask you were the disciples afraid of every Judean Well, of course not they preached to them. They witnessed to them Why then are they afraid of the Jews? who is it that has the authority and the power to bind them and imprison them and To put them to death It's that little power mad ruling elite. Let me show you. They were afraid of these individuals referred to as the Jews.

[John Weaver] Who were the ruling elite who had in their mind that they were going to stamp out Christ and Christianity These were the ones who were always grieved with the preaching and teaching of the apostles so if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4 and Let's read the first three verses Acts 4 And as they spake unto the people, now look, look who comes. As they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

[John Weaver] And they laid hands on them and put them in whole until the next day, for it is now eventide. Now you see the group that they were afraid of. It was these people who had the power to arrest them. Look, if you would, please. They, of course, did so. But skip down to verse 23. Watch what is said in verse 23. And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priest and the elders had said unto them. So this is the group that's persecuting them. This is the group that is harassing them Constantly look in Acts chapter 5 Verses 17 and 18 Just showing you here's this power mad cartel It can be Pharisee. It can be Sadducee. It can be Herodian. There was a click in every one of them notice Acts chapter 5 verse 17 and Then the high priest rose up and all they which were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

[John Weaver] I hope you're beginning to see when they were in that room for fear of the Jews, it was not every Judahite or Judean. It was this little group that had the authority to imprison them.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bible's Acts chapter 13. Acts 13 And let's begin reading their verse 42 In fact, let's read verse 41 because Paul is preaching in verse 41 he says behold you despisers and wandering parish for our work of work in your days a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you and when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue and The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to him unto them the next Sabbath. Now, when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews or the Judeans and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking of them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Well, I have no problem here with verse 42 and verse 43 referring just to the Judahites or whoever was in that synagogue. could have either been from the tribe of Judah or they could have been living in the land of Judeans. But skip down to verse 44, and the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

[John Weaver] Now watch, but when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should have first been spoken to you, but seeing that you put it from you, and judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turned to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and its meanings were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city and Raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts now when you look at the word the Jews in verse 45 and the word the Jews in verse 50 You've got a different group

[John Weaver] of people Who is it that has influence on? over the honorable women and the chief men of the city enough influence to raise up persecution against the apostles it's not the ordinary everyday run-of-the-mill Judean it has to be someone that has some influence and some power Remember I told you earlier that I would give you the first but in Mark 12 in verse 37 the Bible says the common people heard him gladly So what the common people that was upset with him on the common people that were upset with the Apostles and There's the ones who were in power every time you find trouble being stirred up It's always the Pharisees or the Sadducees

[John Weaver] or the Herodians or a mixture of them That's what it is Now let me point out the fact It is the same exact Situation that we have today I don't care what group you have. I do not care how conservative it is. I don't care how constitutional it is. I don't care how Christian it is. Inevitably, invariably, there's always going to be an infiltrator. There will be a plant.

[John Weaver] There will be a mole. And someone is going to seek to stir up trouble and even violence. And guess what? Inevitably, he works for the government. Same thing. Times have not changed. At least the principles by which the wicked work have not changed. So we have the same thing going on today that went on in Bible times. So I want you to turn to Acts 23 because it's important that you see that this term the Jews is oftentimes used to refer to a ruling or controlling elite and does not necessarily refer to all Judeans all the time or every time you read it in the Bible so look at Acts chapter 23 beginning there with verse 12 Acts 23 in verse 12 the Bible said when it was day a certain a certain of the Jews banded together Bound themselves under curse saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul and they were more than 40 which had made this conspiracy and They that is these Judeans they came to the chief priests and elders and said We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul by the way and I guess they starved to death because they never killed him, but they bound themselves under

[John Weaver] great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul. Now therefore you with the council, notice this now, you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him and we or ever he come near or ready to kill him. When Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him and said, Bring this young man to the chief captain, for we have a certain thing to tell him. So he took him and brought him to the chief captain and said, Paul, the prisoner, call me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee who hath something to say unto thee. And the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately and asked him, What is this that thou hast to tell me? Now watch and he said the Jews Have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council as Though they would inquire something more perfectly of him now.

[John Weaver] Wait a minute Wait a minute hmm go back to verse 15 now therefore ye with the council and We're talking about the Sadducees, the Pharisees. We're talking about this ruling elite. And now they're referred to as the Jews. The Jews have agreed to desire that I would bring Paul down tomorrow into the council as though they would inquire something more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them, for there are lying weight of him, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him.

[John Weaver] And now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See that thou tell no man that thou have shoved these things unto me." But note if you would, here's the counsel and now it's referred to in verse 20 as the Jews. So here is this ruling elite.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to ask yourself this question. To whom, then, does the word Jews refer? Obviously, it does not refer to every Judean or every Judahite. It just simply refers to this ruling elite, this cartel. Look in Acts 24 and verse 1. Acts 24, verse 1. after five days Ananias the high priest ascended with the elders and With a certain orator named Tertullus who informed the governor against Paul now, which it watch carefully Who was it that came down Ananias the high priest and the elders and their attorney? now skip down to verse 27 last verse in that chapter But after two years, Porcius Festus came into Felix's room, and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Really? Which Jews? Go back to verse 1. And after five days, Ananias the high priest ascended with the elders. There are the Jews that he's doing the favor for. He's leaving the apostle Paul bound. It's not every Judahite It's not every Judean. It's these ruling elite that we have here in Acts chapter 24.

[John Weaver] Now, look in Acts chapter 25 verses 1 and 2. Acts 25 verses 1 and 2.

[John Weaver] Now, when Thessalonians was coming to the province after three days, he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priests and the chief of the Jews Inform him against Paul and besought him note if you would hmm the high priest and the chief of the Jews skip down to verse 7 and When he was come the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many charges Many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove so Who are the Jews here that are Bringing all these complaints. Well, these are the ones that came with Festus down And lodging these complaints against the Apostle Paul now look if you would please at verse 8 While he answered for himself, here's what Paul said neither against the law of the Jews or the law of God, but the law of the Jews."

[John Weaver] Remember Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He knew what they believed. He knew what their customs and traditions were. And so he says, Against the law of the Jews nor yet against the temple nor yet against Caesar have I offended anything watch verse 9 but festus willing to do the Jews a pleasure which Jews Go back to verse 2 the high priest and the chief of the Jews those who are the ruling power elite if you want to look in verses 14 and 15 same chapter Acts 25 verse 14 and 15 and when they had been there many days Festus declared Paul's calls unto the king saying there's a certain man left in bonds by Felix about whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me desiring to have judgment against him Wow look if you would please 17. Therefore, when they were come hither without any delay on the morrow, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought forth, against whom, when the accuser stood up and brought none accusation of such things as I suppose, but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of

[John Weaver] one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. So, here are the Jews. Here are the ones that are always causing the problem. Look in Acts chapter 26 verse 1. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth a hand and answered for himself, I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.

[John Weaver] Now stop and ask yourself who was accusing the Apostle Paul. It was the chief priests. It was the scribes. It was the Pharisees. It was the Sadducees. Watch verse three. He said, especially because I know thee to be an expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore, I beseech thee to hear me patiently. So Paul in verse two, said he was accused of the Jews. Was every Judean accusing him? No.

[John Weaver] If you go back to Acts 24, Acts 25, don't turn back there, but we just read these. It's the chief priests and the elders that have come down and are laying these grievous complaints against the Apostle Paul. Now, I want to show you from the Bible the group that the Apostle Paul talking about I want to show you the group that fought against Jesus Christ that fought against the Apostles and That are still fighting against Christ and the preaching of the Word of God Look in your Bibles the first Thessalonians chapter 2 first Thessalonians chapter 2 In first Thessalonians chapter 2 beginning there with verse 14 First Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 14 and by the way, you need to slow down and read verse 14 watch carefully First Thessalonians 2 verse 14 for you brethren became followers of the churches of God which in

[John Weaver] Judea or in Christ Jesus For you also have suffered many things or like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews now, wait a minute. I Did you just read with me what I read? For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. So he's talking about these Judeans who believed. They left Judaism. They came to Christ. There are now churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. Look, for you have also suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.

[John Weaver] What is the Apostle saying? The Apostle is saying, here are some Jews that have crucified or not crucified, but have persecuted Judean Christians. And notice, if you would, he's not calling the Judean Christians Jews. He's calling someone else Jews. Well, who is he calling the Jews watch verse 14 the latter part for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews who both kill the Lord Jesus and and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are contrary to

[John Weaver] all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always. For the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." Note, if you would, the Apostle says, I will tell you who the Jews are. They're the ones that murdered the Lord Jesus. They murdered their own prophets. They persecute us. They please not God. They're contrary to all men. They forbid us to preach and speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. They're always filling up their sins and wrath is coming upon them to the absolute uttermost. Wow.

[John Weaver] So it's not all the Judeans that he's talking about here. It's talking about this ruling clique. That had the power to have christ crucified To persecute the apostles to imprison them to kill their own prophets And they forbid the preaching of the word of god by the way I hope you know that you cannot go as a missionary to israel today and open a church and preach there They forbid the preaching of the word of god. You cannot proselytize You cannot witness the land of Israel today you can't look in your Bibles to the book of Titus turn over first and second Timothy and then Titus Titus chapter 1 notice if you would verse 10 and 11 Titus 1 verse 10 watch carefully the Apostle Paul says for there are

[John Weaver] many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially of the circumcision whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake. Now, go back and look at verse 10. He says, For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision. So he's talking about the Jews. Then he says in verse 11, whose mouths must be stopped, Now, here's my question. Is he talking about every Judean? Is he talking about every Judahite?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. Because he is saying that these individuals whose mouths must be stopped subvert whole houses. And they teach things which they ought not for filthy loopers' sake. And you're going to see, before I close, they not only subvert whole houses, they subvert whole communities and societies and states even nations Now I want you to look in the book of Philippians chapter 3 go back a few books Galatians Ephesians Philippians Philippians chapter 3 and Notice if you would beginning there with verse 1 I'm just pointing out how Paul singles out this class that he calls the Jews and Look in Philippians chapter 3 in verse 1 Finally my brethren Rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe beware of dogs beware of evil workers beware of the concision For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh now Go back if you would and look at verse 2 Paul says beware of dogs He's not talking about the four-legged kind

[John Weaver] He's talking about the two-legged kind Beware of dogs beware of evil workers beware of the concision Or the circumcision So he's calling a certain group of Jews dogs He's calling them evil workers Now let me point out if you interpret this passage To refer to every Individual who is circumcised Then you would have to also interpret this passage to say that we have to beware of all Christians and And we have to be aware of ourselves because verse 3 says, for we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. So there's a certain concision or certain circumcision that he's warning people about, that he's calling them dogs and evil workers. So obviously it is not every Judean or every Judite Anyone who just happens to be circumcised because he says that we as Christians are the true circumcision now The entire point that I've been trying to make has been this That when individuals came to Jesus Christ They left Judaism they embraced Christianity they

[John Weaver] became Christians they became followers of Jesus Christ and And think about this in the New Testament. There were a lot of people converted to Jesus Christ. 3,000 on the day of Pentecost. A few days later, 5,000 added. But have you ever noticed as you read through the New Testament, very few of the rulers were ever converted. You could name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night. You could probably name Crispus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. But how many more can you name in scripture? Very few.

[John Weaver] The point I'm trying to make is it is that power elite, that little cartel that had the power, who said in John 11 and verses 47 and 48, we've got to do something about this man. Because if we don't, everybody's going to believe on him. And the Romans are going to come and take away both our place and our nation. We won't have anybody to rule over. We won't have any power. We won't have any authority.

[John Weaver] In other words, it's there. And by the way, this is exactly where we are today. I have heard, I have read, you have heard, you have read, the Jews rule the world. Well, not every Jew rules the world. Not every Judean rules the world. No, but when you stop and think, who has control of Hollywood? Who has control of TV? Who has control of the news media?

[John Weaver] All I'm trying to show you is this. In the New Testament, there was a cartel, there was an evil group whom Paul called dogs and evil workers, who were after Jesus Christ, trying to have him killed, who were after the apostles, who were after anyone who stood for anything that was right, as it was then, so it is now. It is a war between Christ and Satan. It was a war that was prophesied back in Genesis 3 in verse 15, which is known as the Protevangelium, the first promise of the Messiah.

[John Weaver] And what did the Bible say there? That the serpent was going to bruise Christ's heel, but Christ was going to bruise his head. In other words, there's going to be Some problems with Satan, but ultimately he's going to be defeated and destroyed. A bruise on the heel is not nearly as deadly as a bruise on the head. But it's the same group and it's the same battle.

[John Weaver] Now, what a lot of people may not understand is this. There are a lot of Jews that are against Zionism. Zionism is not necessarily even Judaism. In fact, if you go on the internet and just type in Jews against Zionism, you'd be amazed at all the information that you can get. Here's one quote that I got. Listen carefully. Of course, I know Netanyahu is the one today, but this was done when Sharon was still in power. But here is what Jews against Zionism stated. Contrary to the propaganda put out by Israel supporters Israel is not supported by the majority of the world's Jewish people Ariel Sharon does not speak for all Jewish people and being anti-israel is not anti-semitic Notice that and that is put out by Jews Jack Bernstein Stein Obviously Jewish he said this listen carefully Judaism is a religion But Zionism is a political movement started mainly by East European Ashkenazi Jews who for centuries have been the main force behind communism and socialism.

[John Weaver] The ultimate goal of the Zionists is one world government under the control of the Zionist and the Zionist-oriented German Jewish international bankers." Wow. What is he saying? There's a cartel. There's an evil cartel that is trying to control the entire world. I want to read to you an article, part of an article written by Dr. Henry Macow, M-A-K-O-W. He's a Jewish author.

[John Weaver] You're talking about someone who nails this very clearly. And to be honest, He says some things in this quote that I'm going to give you That unhappily a lot of Christians do not even see I Want you to listen to what he says Dr. Henry Macau he's commenting on a book and I do have the book. The book is entitled the devil and the Jews Written by Rabbi Joshua Trachtenberg Who died in 1959? But here's what dr. Macau says Illuminati, Kabbalah Jews, and their Masonic henchmen don't want Jews or others to understand the hidden subversive occult character of the collective Jewish enterprise. They don't want Jews to understand that anti-Semitism throughout the ages was not irrational. This realization would empower Gentiles and allow the lesser brethren, he's talking about Jews, to escape their roles as dupes, scapegoats, human shields, and human sacrifices for their demented leadership. Kabbalah Jews believe that they define God's will.

[John Weaver] In other words, God comes into the world through them. Otherwise, He is formless and unknowable.

[John Weaver] Now listen, The Kabbalistic conspiracy is on the cusp of success. God has been banished from public life. Let me just stop there. What I'm about to say right now is not a quote. But it's not just prayer and Bible reading kicked out of public schools. I don't have any sympathy for public schools anyhow. But I'm just simply saying, you can't even bring a Bible in a workplace today. You can't even wear Christian jewelry because it's offensive. You know, this is exactly what he's saying. God has been banished from public life. And he is saying that this little cartel of Jews are the ones doing it. Let me go on. I'm quoting now. Illuminati Jews control the mass media and can deceive and degrade the masses.

[John Weaver] Entertainment is an orgy of pornography, obscenity, propaganda, violence, and Satanism. Wow, he's nailing it. I'm continuing. Illuminati Jews and Masons behind feminism are responsible for the debauchery of Western women. They're behind the promotion of homosexuality designed to destroy marriage and the family. They are at the forefront of the sexual liberation, pornography and abortion. The mass media is obsessed with sex. It has a fawning fetish for fertile females and even children aren't safe.

[John Weaver] The stock market is a giant casino with millions trading daily. Christianity has been Judaized. This is a Jewish man saying this. Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation. Christian Zionists are pledged to the Zionist rogue state. The Illuminati are destabilizing the third world using charities to empower females to reject marriage. Donors are invited to become an agent of change, which is a code for New World Order.

[John Weaver] They want girls to be educated, in other words, indoctrinated, as in the West. In general, they are feminizing the world, making women and their concerns central. Trachtenberg was a Reformed rabbi for 30 years. His portrait gazes down on his personal library housed at Temple Emeth in Tennec, New Jersey.

[John Weaver] Now listen to what he says. He is one of the decent Jews like myself who have been used as a Trojan horse for the Illuminati under the aegis of communism, socialism, liberalism, feminism, Zionism, neoconservatism, and gay rights. Here's his last sentence. Listen. We're all Jews now. Godless, deceived, degraded, unused. But at least we know where we stand and can act accordingly. Well, what did he mean when he said we're all Jews now?

[John Weaver] What he means is this. Just like that little power cartel in the New Testament used all the people. Control the people. So we have this same cartel today that it does not matter what religion you are, does not matter what ethnicity you are, doesn't matter what group you are with or what group you are from, you're still being used and abused and subverted and enslaved and are being led as a lamb to the slaughter. That's what he means. That's exactly what he means.

[John Weaver] I find it interesting that he says Christianity Has been judaized Concerned with social change the Satanist agenda rather than the spiritual development and salvation How can someone who's unconverted have such insight? Let me show you go back in your Bible so John chapter 8 this is the passage we begin with Look in John chapter 8 and let's go back to verse 30 John 8 verse 30 As He spake these words, many believed on Him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed.

[John Weaver] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Now go back to verse 31 then said Jesus of those Jews or those Judeans who believed on him if you continue in my word Here it is. Then you're truly my disciples in other words the evidence that you've ever been genuinely converted is that you continue in his word and And he said, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to me. Only Jesus Christ can make us free. Only his word can make us free. If you do not want to be used, if you don't want to be abused, if you don't want to be a slave, if you want to be led as a lamb to the slaughter, then you need to know Jesus Christ. You need to know his word. You need to know his law. And you need to bring your life in conformity to it. Jesus Christ is freedom. Jesus Christ is truth and there is no freedom and there is no truth outside of Jesus Christ. Let me put it bluntly Outside of Jesus Christ and his word Everything else is a lie Everything else is a lie If you want to get your theology from seeing in and Dan rather have at it but you have to understand truth is only found in Jesus Christ he said I am the way the truth and the life and no man cometh to the father but by me so obviously when you see the word Jews in the Bible you need to look at the context you need to determine whether he's talking about someone from the tribe of Judah Someone from the southern kingdom someone who

[John Weaver] happens to live in Judea Someone who embraces the Jews religion or if he's talking about this power Elite this cartel That is trying to run everything and everybody And then remember I want to be free So I'm gonna obey Christ and bring my life in conformity to his words Amen, let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace, your mercy, your goodness, your kindness. Thank you for truth. Help us to live for thee. Help us to be holy and godly and obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

Jews, Judaism And Christianity - Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	ITciZoXjJgY
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2015-10-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 088: Jews, Judaism And Christianity — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	77

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the series, emphasizing that Jesus was a Judahite, not a Jew by religion, and that the apostles were Galileans. He recaps how Judaizers mixed law and grace, and how God addressed His people as Israel, not 'Jews.'

Open our Bibles to John chapter 8, and we'll read verses 30 through 32, and I think we'll begin there. I'll take a few moments to review. This is the fifth and final installment of the brief series on Jews, Judaism, and Christianity. So John chapter 8, notice verse 30:

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed." "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Now, we've covered a lot of ground in the last four messages. However, we've got an awful lot of ground to cover today, so you need to hold on to your seats and keep your fingers limber because we'll be turning to an awful lot of scriptures as well. If you'll remember, in the first message, I pointed out how that Jesus Christ was a Judean in the sense that he was from the tribe of Judah.

Maybe I should say it more correctly: He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion. And of course, our Lord was only born in the land of Judea, stayed there less than two years. He was conceived in Nazareth and raised and lived in Nazareth, which is the northern kingdom, not the southern kingdom. He was indeed of the tribe of Judah, but he was not a Jew. He was a Judahite. Moreover, I pointed out in the second message how all of the apostles, with the exception of Judas, were Galileans. Judas was the only one from the land of Judea. He's from Kerioth, which is south of Hebron toward Edom. And certainly when you get to the book of Acts chapter 2, they ask, "Are not all these Galileans, which we hear every man in his own tongue?" In the third message, I pointed out how the Judaizers were individuals who tried to mix law and grace.

They're the ones who said it's all right to believe in Jesus, but if you really wanted to be saved, then you had to be circumcised and you had to keep the tradition of the elders and all this kind of stuff. I also showed you how that a believer, even a non-Jew, can act like a Jew, because that is how and why Paul confronted Peter in Galatians chapter 2. And of course, to become a Jew is to fulfill the traditions and the ceremonies and the customs, etc. And of course, when Paul confronted Peter, he nailed him to the wall because the issue of the gospel was at stake. In the fourth message, I showed you how God addressed his people. Neither God nor any of the disciples ever began their messages by saying, "Hey, you Jews." Obviously, our Lord talked about the people or Israel. And then when the apostles preached, they referred to them either as the people or "men and brethren of Israel, let me speak to you," et cetera. So obviously, they did not refer to them as Jews. You have to remember that only the southern kingdom were the people referred to as Jews.

The Jews' Feasts vs. the Lord's Feasts

Weaver shows from John, Exodus, and Leviticus that the Passover and other feasts were originally 'the Lord's' but became 'the Jews'' through human manipulation and tradition.

But in John 2 and verse 13, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — John 2:13

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem."

Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that?

Scripture Reading — John 2:13

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand."

So my question is really, when did the Passover become the Jews' Passover? If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 12. Exodus chapter 12. Exodus 12, and let's begin reading there in verse 11. Exodus 12 verse 11, notice what the scripture says, and God says, "And thus shall you eat it with your loins girded and your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand, and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover." Hmm. Skip down, if you would, to verse 27. Exodus 12 verse 27, he says again, "Thus you shall say, It is a sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head in worship." Note, "You shall say, It is the Lord's Passover." If you look in Leviticus 23 and verse 5, Leviticus 23 in verse 5, in this passage we're told, Leviticus 23 verse 5, "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover." So somehow

Scripture Reading — Exodus 12:11,27

the Passover left the Lord and became the Jews' Passover. In other words, they manipulated the ordinance. If you look in your Bibles to John chapter 5 and verse 1, I'll give you another illustration. John 5 and verse 1. Notice if you would, we'll then go to John 7, but look in John 5 and verse 1. "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Note, "After this there was a feast of the Jews." Now look in John 7, if you would, and verse 2. John 7 in verse 2. The Bible says, "Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." So how did all of these feasts become the feasts of the Jews? Well, if you'd look in your Bibles to the book of Hosea chapter 12 and verse 9. Hosea 12 in verse 9. Look what God said. Hosea 12 verse 9, "And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast."

"I the Lord thy God will make thee to dwell in tabernacles." In other words, the feast of tabernacles was a feast of the Lord. It was that which he ordained. In the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi, the book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16, watch it. The book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16: "And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles."

So all of these feasts were God's feasts. He ordained them. He is the one that instituted them. He is the one that said how they were to be observed.

Now I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 15, and I hope now that you can begin to understand what our Lord is saying to these Jews. Now I want you to look in Matthew chapter 15, beginning there with verse 1. Matthew 15 verse 1. Note if you would who came. Matthew 15 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:1-9

"Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?" "For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother, and he that curseth father and mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

Now watch carefully, "Ye hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." So we see that these feasts and these ceremonies that belong to the Lord now became the feasts and the ceremonies of the Jews.

The Jews as a Ruling Elite

Weaver introduces the idea that 'the Jews' often denotes a power-hungry cartel, not all Judeans. He begins with John 1:19, where the Jews sent priests and Levites, indicating a ruling authority.

So, you have to ask, how did the changes occur? Now, I want to answer that by pointing out a new way that the word "Jews" is used in scripture. I hinted at it last week. I even said it, but I'm going to show it to you with a multiplicity of verses today. Usually when we talk about the Jews, we're talking about someone either from the tribe of Judah, or someone from the land of Judea, or someone from the southern kingdom, or we're talking about someone who has embraced Judaism, which is the Jews' religion according to Paul in Galatians chapter 1. But I also want to point out that sometimes the word "Jews" is used in the New Testament to indicate what you and I would call a ruling elite or a power-hungry, power-mad cartel. Wow. And you're going to find that these were differentiated from the people who lived in the land. For instance, let's begin with John chapter 1 and verse 19. Now, I read this passage last week, but I'm just going to use this as a springboard and begin to show you other passages.

But notice if you would in John chapter 1 and verse 19. The Bible says, "And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?" Now, I want you to note how this phrase is used. "When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him." Well, I pointed out from the book of Luke chapter 1, John himself was a Judean, that is he lived in the foothills of Judah. Certainly he was of the tribe of Levi, that is for sure. His father was a Levite and his mother was a Levite. But they lived in Judah because the father served at the temple, and so since he would have been a Judean in the sense that he lived there, isn't it strange? It says, "This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites." So you have to ask yourself this question: Did every Judean have the power and the authority to send priests and Levites to question someone?

And the answer is no. The only one who had the power and authority to send priests and Levites would have been the high priest or the ruling class or the ruling clique at that particular time. And by the way, there was a clique in the priesthood, just like there was a clique in the Pharisees and a clique in the Sanhedrin. I'll show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4 and verse 6. Acts 4 and verse 6. Interestingly, Acts 4 verse 6. Watch. You talking about nepotism? You talking about a clique? Here it is. Acts 4 verse 6:

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:6

"And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem."

Look, here's this whole power clique coming together. And they're asking the apostles, "By what authority and by what power and by what

Scriptural Evidence for the Cartel

Weaver cites multiple passages (John 2, 5, 9, 19; Acts 4, 5, 13, 23-26) where 'the Jews' are equated with chief priests, Pharisees, and elders who persecuted Jesus and the apostles, not the common people.

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:6

"And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem."

Look, here's this whole power clique coming together. And they're asking the apostles, "By what authority and by what power and by what

name have you done this?" But note if you would here, here is Annas and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and note the phrase, "and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest." Everybody in this little clique came together. Now I want you to turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 2. In John chapter 2, our Lord cleanses the temple, and I want you to look in John chapter 2 beginning there with verse 18. After our Lord has thrown over the money changers' tables and drove them out of the temple, look in verse 18: "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I'll raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body."

"When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them, and they believed the scriptures and the word which Jesus had said." Now, go back to verse 18. After he's overthrown the money changers' tables in the temple and those that sold doves, "Then the Jews said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us?" Now you would have to ask yourself this question: Which Jews? And why are they asking for a sign? I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew 12. You turn there. I want to quote a scripture for you and explain something as you're turning to Matthew chapter 12. In 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 22, the Bible says, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." Now here's my question: Did all the Jews require a sign? Did all Greeks seek after wisdom? No. Not all Jews required a sign.

It was just the ruling elite. It was the power cartel. Not all Greeks sought after wisdom. It was the philosophers. It was the elite in the Greek lands, but it was not necessarily every Greek. If you will look in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there in verse 38, you will find who it was that required a sign. Matthew 12 verse 38: "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas." Now you have to remember, I've told you in the last message how that the Sadducees and the Pharisees and Herodians all worked together to get rid of Christ, and they were the ruling clique.

There was a group even among these individuals. Now, when our Lord healed a man by the pool of Bethesda, that is in John chapter 5, if you will turn there, John chapter 5, our Lord has healed this lame man by the pool of Bethesda. And look if you would what is said in verses 15 and 16. John chapter 5 verses 15 and 16. After he has been healed, the Bible says, "The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day." Now, when the man told the Jews, you've got to remember, go back if you would to verse 1 of John chapter 5: "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches." So Jesus is in Jerusalem, which is in Judea, where everybody would be Judeans or Jews. And now the Bible says in verse 15, "The man departed and told it to the Jews."

Well, who did he tell it to? Did he tell it to every Judean? The answer is no. Watch, if you would, verse 16: "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day." Did every Judean seek to persecute Christ and slay? No. I'll quote the scripture a little bit later, but the Bible says the common people heard him gladly. They weren't trying to kill him. It was the powers that be that were trying to kill him and trying to slay him. It's just that simple.

Now, look if you would please verse 18. Here it is even plainer:

Scripture Reading — John 5:15-18

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the Sabbath"

—that is their interpretation of it—

Scripture Reading — John 5:15-18

"but also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God."

So here's this group that is in control, that has power and authority, that are trying to execute, to kill, to murder Christ, and later on the apostles as well. So turn right on over to John chapter 9, because in John chapter 9, our Lord heals a man who was blind from birth. Never before had this been done. So in John chapter 9, let's begin reading with verse 13. After our Lord heals the man, "They brought him to the Pharisees, him that aforetime was blind." Remember now, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, they're all in it together. So they brought him to the Pharisees. "And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight."

"He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?" "He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews"—note this term, "but the Jews"—now wait a minute, go back if you would to verse 13, "They brought him to the Pharisees." Brought him to the Pharisees. Now they are called the Jews. Verse 18: "But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been born blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight." Now watch carefully. "And they asked them, saying, Is this your son whom you say was born blind?"

"How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age, ask him." So let me ask you a question. They brought him to the Pharisees, and yet now the Pharisees are called the Jews. And now the Jews had already agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Who had the power and the authority to excommunicate and put someone out of the synagogue? Did every Jew have that power and authority?

And the answer is no. The ruler of the synagogue, whoever was in the clique, would have that power and that authority, but not just every individual. So here again, the term "Jews" is used interchangeably with Pharisees. Sometimes it's used interchangeably with Sadducees or chief priests or elders and scribes. But it's talking about a power elite. It's talking about a cartel. Look in your Bibles to John chapter 19. It's amazing once you begin to see this, how many times you see it in the New Testament. Look in John chapter 19, verses 6 and 7. Christ is before Pilate. Look in verse 5: "Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said unto them, Behold the man!" Now watch. "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him." Let me ask you, look carefully now. Who is it that's crying out? The chief priests and the officers. They cry out, "Crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of

God." Now wait a minute. Pilate is talking to the chief priests and to the officers, and he says, "Take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." The Jews answered. Well, who are the Jews? They're the same ones in verse 6, the chief priests and the officers. You see how that is being used? So the Jews here does not refer to every Judean. It does not refer to every Judahite.

It's referring to this one little power group that wants our Lord crucified and dead and out of the way. So, obviously, clearly here it is indeed a group. The context demands that the Jews in verse 7 be equated to the chief priests and the officers in verse 6, because that's who's doing the speaking. Look in John chapter 20 and verse 19. John 20 verse 19:

Scripture Reading — John 20:19

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be unto you."

Now let me ask you, were the disciples afraid of every Judean? Well, of course not. They preached to them. They witnessed to them. Why then are they afraid of the Jews? Who is it that has the authority and the power to bind them and imprison them and to put them to death? It's that little power-mad ruling elite. Let me show you. They were afraid of these individuals referred to as the Jews.

Who were the ruling elite who had in their mind that they were going to stamp out Christ and Christianity? These were the ones who were always grieved with the preaching and teaching of the apostles. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4, and let's read the first three verses. Acts 4:

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"And as they spake unto the people"

—now look, look who comes—

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead." "And they laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for it is now eventide."

Now you see the group that they were afraid of. It was these people who had the power to arrest them. Look, if you would, please. They, of course, did so. But skip down to verse 23. Watch what is said in verse 23: "And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them." So this is the group that's persecuting them. This is the group that is harassing them constantly. Look in Acts chapter 5, verses 17 and 18. Just showing you, here's this power-mad cartel. It can be Pharisee, it can be Sadducee, it can be Herodian. There was a clique in every one of them. Notice Acts chapter 5 verse 17:

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"Then the high priest rose up and all they which were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison."

I hope you're beginning to see, when they were in that room for fear of the Jews, it was not every Judahite or Judean. It was this little group that had the authority to imprison them. Now, look in your Bibles, Acts chapter 13. Acts 13, and let's begin reading there verse 42. In fact, let's read verse 41 because Paul is preaching. In verse 41 he says, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now, when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews or the Judeans and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Well, I have no problem here with verse 42 and verse 43 referring just to the Judahites or whoever was in that synagogue. It could have either been from the tribe of Judah or they could have been living in the land of Judea. But skip down to verse 44: "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God."

Now watch: "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 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. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts." Now when you look at the word "the Jews" in verse 45 and the word "the Jews" in verse 50, you've got a different group

of people. Who is it that has influence over the honorable women and the chief men of the city, enough influence to raise up persecution against the apostles? It's not the ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill Judean. It has to be someone that has some influence and some power. Remember I told you earlier that I would give you the verse, but in Mark 12 and verse 37, the Bible says, "The common people heard him gladly." So it wasn't the common people that were upset with him, nor the common people that were upset with the apostles. It's the ones who were in power. Every time you find trouble being stirred up, it's always the Pharisees or the Sadducees

or the Herodians or a mixture of them. That's what it is. Now let me point out the fact: It is the same exact situation that we have today. I don't care what group you have. I do not care how conservative it is. I don't care how constitutional it is. I don't care how Christian it is. Inevitably, invariably, there's always going to be an infiltrator. There will be a plant.

There will be a mole. And someone is going to seek to stir up trouble and even violence. And guess what? Inevitably, he works for the government. Same thing. Times have not changed. At least the principles by which the wicked work have not changed. So we have the same thing going on today that went on in Bible times. So I want you to turn to Acts 23, because it's important that you see that this term "the Jews" is oftentimes used to refer to a ruling or controlling elite and does not necessarily refer to all Judeans all the time or every time you read it in the Bible. So look at Acts chapter 23, beginning there with verse 12. Acts 23 in verse 12, the Bible says, "And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy." And they, that is these Judeans, they came to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul." By the way, I guess they starved to death because they never killed him, but they bound themselves under a

great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul. "Now therefore ye with the council"—notice this now—"ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him." And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he hath a certain thing to tell him." So he took him and brought him to the chief captain and said, "Paul the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee." And the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately and asked him, "What is that thou hast to tell me?" Now watch, and he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire something more perfectly of him." Now

wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hmm. Go back to verse 15: "Now therefore ye with the council." We're talking about the Sadducees, the Pharisees. We're talking about this ruling elite. And now they're referred to as the Jews. "The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire something more perfectly of him. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him."

"And now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me." But note if you would, here's the council, and now it's referred to in verse 20 as the Jews. So here is this ruling elite. Now, you have to ask yourself this question: To whom, then, does the word "Jews" refer? Obviously, it does not refer to every Judean or every Judahite. It just simply refers to this ruling elite, this cartel. Look in Acts 24 and verse 1. Acts 24, verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul." Now watch carefully. Who was it that came down? Ananias the high priest and the elders and their attorney. Now skip down to verse 27, the last verse in that chapter: "But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." Really? Which Jews? Go back to verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders." There are the Jews that he's doing the favor for. He's leaving the apostle Paul bound. It's not every Judahite. It's not every Judean. It's these ruling elite that we have here in Acts chapter 24.

Now, look in Acts chapter 25 verses 1 and 2. Acts 25 verses 1 and 2. "Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him." Note if you would, hmm, the high priest and the chief of the Jews. Skip down to verse 7: "And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove." So who are the Jews here that are bringing all these complaints? Well, these are the ones that came with Festus down and lodging these complaints against the apostle Paul. Now look if you would please at verse 8: "While he answered for himself"—here's what Paul said—"Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing." But note, "the law of the Jews."

Remember Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He knew what they believed. He knew what their customs and traditions were. And so he says, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor yet against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing." Watch verse 9: "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure"—which Jews? Go back to verse 2: "the high priest and the chief of the Jews"—those who are the ruling power elite. If you want to look in verses 14 and 15, same chapter, Acts 25 verse 14 and 15: "And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him." Wow. Look if you would please verse 17: "Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of

one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." So, here are the Jews. Here are the ones that are always causing the problem. Look in Acts chapter 26 verse 1: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews."

Now stop and ask yourself, who was accusing the apostle Paul? It was the chief priests. It was the scribes. It was the Pharisees. It was the Sadducees. Watch verse 3: "Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently." So Paul in verse 2 said he was accused of the Jews. Was every Judean accusing him? No.

Paul's Identification of the Persecuting Jews

In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul describes the Jews who killed Jesus and the prophets, persecuted believers, and forbid preaching to Gentiles. Weaver argues this refers to the ruling clique, not all Judeans.

If you go back to Acts 24, Acts 25—don't turn back there, but we just read these—it's the chief priests and the elders that have come down and are laying these grievous complaints against the apostle Paul. Now, I want to show you from the Bible the group that the apostle Paul is talking about. I want to show you the group that fought against Jesus Christ, that fought against the apostles, and that are still fighting against Christ and the preaching of the Word of God. Look in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 14, and by the way, you need to slow down and read verse 14. Watch carefully. 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 14: "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in

Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews." Now, wait a minute. Did you just read with me what I read? "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus." So he's talking about these Judeans who believed. They left Judaism. They came to Christ. There are now churches in Judea which are in Christ Jesus. Look: "For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews."

What is the apostle saying? The apostle is saying, here are some Jews that have persecuted Judean Christians. And notice, if you would, he's not calling the Judean Christians Jews. He's calling someone else Jews. Well, who is he calling the Jews? Watch verse 14, the latter part: "For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." Note, if you would, the apostle says, I will tell you who the Jews are. They're the ones that murdered the Lord Jesus. They murdered their own prophets. They persecute us. They please not God. They're contrary to all men. They forbid us to preach and speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. They're always filling up their sins, and wrath is coming upon them to the absolute uttermost. Wow.

Warnings Against the Circumcision Party

Weaver examines Philippians 3:2 and Titus 1:10-11, where Paul calls certain Jews 'dogs' and 'evil workers' whose mouths must be stopped. He clarifies this targets a specific group, not all circumcised individuals.

So it's not all the Judeans that he's talking about here. It's talking about this ruling clique that had the power to have Christ crucified, to persecute the apostles, to imprison them, to kill their own prophets. And they forbid the preaching of the Word of God. By the way, I hope you know that you cannot go as a missionary to Israel today and open a church and preach there. They forbid the preaching of the Word of God. You cannot proselytize. You cannot witness in the land of Israel today. Look in your Bibles to the book of Titus. Turn over 1 and 2 Timothy and then Titus. Titus chapter 1, notice if you would verse 10 and 11. Titus 1 verse 10, watch carefully. The apostle Paul says, "For there are

many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." Now, go back and look at verse 10. He says, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision." So he's talking about the Jews. Then he says in verse 11, "whose mouths must be stopped." Now, here's my question: Is he talking about every Judean? Is he talking about every Judahite? And the answer is no. Because he is saying that these individuals whose mouths must be stopped subvert whole houses. And they teach things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake. And you're going to see, before I close, they not only subvert whole houses, they subvert whole communities and societies and states, even nations. Now I want you to look in the book of Philippians chapter 3. Go back a few books: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Philippians chapter 3, and notice if you would beginning there with verse 1. I'm just pointing out how Paul singles out this class that he calls the Jews. Look in Philippians chapter 3 in verse 1: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Now go back if you would and look at verse 2. Paul says, "Beware of dogs." He's not talking about the four-legged kind.

He's talking about the two-legged kind. "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision," or the circumcision. So he's calling a certain group of Jews dogs. He's calling them evil workers. Now let me point out, if you interpret this passage to refer to every individual who is circumcised, then you would have to also interpret this passage to say that we have to beware of all Christians. And we have to beware of ourselves, because verse 3 says, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." So there's a certain concision or certain circumcision that he's warning people about, that he's calling them dogs and evil workers. So obviously it is not every Judean or every Judahite, anyone who just happens to be circumcised, because he says that we as Christians are the true circumcision. Now the entire point that I've been trying to make has been this: that when individuals came to Jesus Christ, they left Judaism, they embraced Christianity, they

Modern Parallel: A Controlling Elite

Weaver draws a parallel between the New Testament cartel and a modern elite that controls media, promotes immorality, and opposes Christianity. He quotes Jewish critics of Zionism and a Jewish author who describes an Illuminati conspiracy.

became Christians, they became followers of Jesus Christ. And think about this: in the New Testament, there were a lot of people converted to Jesus Christ. 3,000 on the day of Pentecost. A few days later, 5,000 added. But have you ever noticed as you read through the New Testament, very few of the rulers were ever converted. You could name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night. You could probably name Crispus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. But how many more can you name in scripture? Very few.

The point I'm trying to make is it is that power elite, that little cartel that had the power, who said in John 11 and verses 47 and 48, "We've got to do something about this man. Because if we don't, everybody's going to believe on him. And the Romans are going to come and take away both our place and our nation. We won't have anybody to rule over. We won't have any power. We won't have any authority." In other words, it's there. And by the way, this is exactly where we are today. I have heard, I have read, you have heard, you have read, the Jews rule the world. Well, not every Jew rules the world. Not every Judean rules the world. No, but when you stop and think, who has control of Hollywood? Who has control of TV? Who has control of the news media?

All I'm trying to show you is this: In the New Testament, there was a cartel, there was an evil group whom Paul called dogs and evil workers, who were after Jesus Christ, trying to have him killed, who were after the apostles, who were after anyone who stood for anything that was right. As it was then, so it is now. It is a war between Christ and Satan. It was a war that was prophesied back in Genesis 3 and verse 15, which is known as the Protevangelium, the first promise of the Messiah. And what did the Bible say there? That the serpent was going to bruise Christ's heel, but Christ was going to bruise his head. In other words, there's going to be some problems with Satan, but ultimately he's going to be defeated and destroyed. A bruise on the heel is not nearly as deadly as a bruise on the head. But it's the same group and it's the same battle.

Now, what a lot of people may not understand is this: There are a lot of Jews that are against Zionism. Zionism is not necessarily even Judaism. In fact, if you go on the internet and just type in "Jews against Zionism," you'd be amazed at all the information that you can get. Here's one quote that I got. Listen carefully. Of course, I know Netanyahu is the one today, but this was done when Sharon was still in power. But here is what Jews against Zionism stated: "Contrary to the propaganda put out by Israel supporters, Israel is not supported by the majority of the world's Jewish people. Ariel Sharon does not speak for all Jewish people, and being anti-Israel is not anti-Semitic." Notice that, and that is put out by Jews. Jack Bernstein, obviously Jewish, said this—listen carefully: "Judaism is a religion, but Zionism is a political movement started mainly by East European Ashkenazi Jews who for centuries have been the main force behind communism and socialism.

The ultimate goal of the Zionists is one world government under the control of the Zionist and the Zionist-oriented German Jewish international bankers." Wow. What is he saying? There's a cartel. There's an evil cartel that is trying to control the entire world. I want to read to you an article, part of an article written by Dr. Henry Makow, M-A-K-O-W. He's a Jewish author.

You're talking about someone who nails this very clearly. And to be honest, he says some things in this quote that I'm going to give you that, unhappily, a lot of Christians do not even see. I want you to listen to what he says. Dr. Henry Makow, he's commenting on a book—and I do have the book. The book is entitled "The Devil and the Jews," written by Rabbi Joshua Trachtenberg, who died in 1959. But here's what Dr. Makow says: "Illuminati, Kabbalah Jews, and their Masonic henchmen don't want Jews or others to understand the hidden subversive occult character of the collective Jewish enterprise. They don't want Jews to understand that anti-Semitism throughout the ages was not irrational. This realization would empower Gentiles and allow the lesser brethren"—he's talking about Jews—"to escape their roles as dupes, scapegoats, human shields, and human sacrifices for their demented leadership. Kabbalah Jews believe that they define God's will.

In other words, God comes into the world through them. Otherwise, He is formless and unknowable. Now listen: "The Kabbalistic conspiracy is on the cusp of success. God has been banished from public life." Let me just stop there. What I'm about to say right now is not a quote. But it's not just prayer and Bible reading kicked out of public schools. I don't have any sympathy for public schools anyhow. But I'm just simply saying, you can't even bring a Bible in a workplace today. You can't even wear Christian jewelry because it's offensive. You know, this is exactly what he's saying. God has been banished from public life. And he is saying that this little cartel of Jews are the ones doing it. Let me go on. I'm quoting now: "Illuminati Jews control the mass media and can deceive and degrade the masses.

Entertainment is an orgy of pornography, obscenity, propaganda, violence, and Satanism." Wow, he's nailing it. I'm continuing: "Illuminati Jews and Masons behind feminism are responsible for the debauchery of Western women. They're behind the promotion of homosexuality designed to destroy marriage and the family. They are at the forefront of the sexual liberation, pornography and abortion. The mass media is obsessed with sex. It has a fawning fetish for fertile females and even children aren't safe. The stock market is a giant casino with millions trading daily. Christianity has been Judaized." This is a Jewish man saying this. "Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation. Christian Zionists are pledged to the Zionist rogue state. The Illuminati are destabilizing the third world using charities to empower females to reject marriage. Donors are invited to become an agent of change, which is a code for New World Order.

They want girls to be educated, in other words, indoctrinated, as in the West. In general, they are feminizing the world, making women and their concerns central. Trachtenberg was a Reformed rabbi for 30 years. His portrait gazes down on his personal library housed at Temple Emeth in Tennec, New Jersey.

Now listen to what he says: "He is one of the decent Jews like myself who have been used as a Trojan horse for the Illuminati under the aegis of communism, socialism, liberalism, feminism, Zionism, neoconservatism, and gay rights." Here's his last sentence. Listen: "We're all Jews now. Godless, deceived, degraded, unused. But at least we know where we stand and can act accordingly." Well, what did he mean when he said we're all Jews now? What he means is this: Just like that little power cartel in the New Testament used all the people, controlled the people, so we have this same cartel today that it does not matter what religion you are, does not matter what ethnicity you are, doesn't matter what group you are with or what group you are from, you're still being used and abused and subverted and enslaved and are being led as a lamb to the slaughter. That's what he means. That's exactly what he means.

Freedom in Christ Alone

Weaver concludes by returning to John 8:30-32, urging believers to continue in Christ's word to know the truth and be free. He asserts that only Jesus provides true freedom and truth.

I find it interesting that he says Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than the spiritual development and salvation. How can someone who's unconverted have such insight? Let me show you. Go back in your Bible to John chapter 8. This is the passage we began with. Look in John chapter 8 and let's go back to verse 30. John 8 verse 30: "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Now go back to verse 31: "Then said Jesus to those Jews"—or those Judeans—"who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, here it is, then are ye truly my disciples." In other words, the evidence that you've ever been genuinely converted is that you continue in his word. And he said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I want you to listen to me. Only Jesus Christ can make us free. Only his word can make us free. If you do not want to be used, if you don't want to be abused, if you don't want to be a slave, if you don't want to be led as a lamb to the slaughter, then you need to know Jesus Christ. You need to know his word. You need to know his law. And you need to bring your life in conformity to it. Jesus Christ is freedom. Jesus Christ is truth, and there is no freedom and there is no truth outside of Jesus Christ. Let me put it bluntly: Outside of Jesus Christ and his word, everything else is a lie. Everything else is a lie. If you want to get your theology from CNN and Dan Rather, have at it, but you have to understand truth is only found in Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So obviously, when you see the word "Jews" in the Bible, you need to look at the context. You need to determine whether he's talking about someone from the tribe of Judah, someone from the southern kingdom, someone who

happens to live in Judea, someone who embraces the Jews' religion, or if he's talking about this power elite, this cartel that is trying to run everything and everybody. And then remember, I want to be free. So I'm gonna obey Christ and bring my life in conformity to his words. Amen. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace, your mercy, your goodness, your kindness. Thank you for truth. Help us to live for thee. Help us to be holy and godly and obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Distinction between Judahites and Jews

Summary: Weaver maintains that 'Jew' often refers to a religious or political identity (Judaism) rather than ethnic descent from Judah, and that Jesus and most apostles were not 'Jews' in this sense.

Evidence: He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion. (77.3-104.4s)

The Jews as a ruling elite

Summary: The term 'the Jews' in the New Testament frequently denotes a power cartel of chief priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees who opposed Christ and the apostles, not the general populace.

Evidence: When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (689.0-702.7s) and the context shows only the high priest or ruling class had such authority.

Corruption of God's ordinances

Summary: The feasts and ceremonies ordained by God were perverted by human traditions and became known as 'the Jews' feasts,' illustrating how the ruling elite changed worship.

Evidence: And the Jews' Passover was at hand... when did the Passover become the Jews' Passover? (289.4-391.6s)

Persecution of true believers by the elite

Summary: The ruling Jews consistently persecuted Jesus, the apostles, and early Christians, seeking to kill them and suppress the gospel.

Evidence: Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. (1099.7-1126.1s)

Modern continuation of the cartel

Summary: Weaver claims a similar elite exists today, controlling media, promoting moral decay, and opposing true Christianity, echoing the New Testament pattern.

Evidence: I don't care what group you have... there's always going to be an infiltrator... And guess what? Inevitably, he works for the government. (1896.0-1994.7s)

Freedom only in Christ and His Word

Summary: True freedom from deception and enslavement comes only through continuing in Jesus' word and knowing the truth, which is found exclusively in Him.

Evidence: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (3580.2-3609.4s)

Key Arguments

Jesus was not a Jew by religion

Summary: Jesus was a Judahite by tribe but not a practitioner of Judaism; He was raised in Galilee and opposed the traditions that had corrupted God's law.

Evidence: He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion. (77.3-104.4s)

The term 'Jews' often means the ruling clique

Summary: In many New Testament passages, 'the Jews' refers specifically to the chief priests, Pharisees, and elders who held power and persecuted Christ and the apostles.

Evidence: Then answered the Jews and said unto him... Which Jews? And why are they asking for a sign? (885.6-964.2s) and the context shows it was the ruling elite.

The common people were not the persecutors

Summary: The ordinary Judeans often heard Jesus gladly; it was the leaders who sought to kill Him and later the apostles.

Evidence: The common people heard him gladly. (1860.8-1895.6s)

Paul identified the persecuting Jews as a specific group

Summary: In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul describes the Jews who killed Jesus and the prophets, not all Judeans, but the same power elite.

Evidence: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us... (2553.3-2590.9s)

The modern elite mirrors the biblical cartel

Summary: A contemporary group, often associated with Zionism and international banking, controls media and culture to subvert society, just as the New Testament elite did.

Evidence: The ultimate goal of the Zionists is one world government under the control of the Zionist and the Zionist-oriented German Jewish international bankers. (3158.0-3195.1s)

Christianity has been Judaized

Summary: Weaver quotes a Jewish author who claims Christianity has been corrupted to focus on social change rather than spiritual salvation, a sign of the elite's influence.

Evidence: Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation. (3379.4-3419.3s)

Scripture References

John 8:30-32

Context: Weaver opens and closes with this passage, emphasizing that continuing in Christ's word leads to true discipleship and freedom.

John 2:13

Context: Used to show that the Passover is called 'the Jews' Passover' instead of the Lord's, indicating corruption of the ordinance.

Exodus 12:11,27

Context: God originally called it 'the Lord's Passover,' contrasting with the later 'Jews' Passover.'

Leviticus 23:5

Context: Reinforces that the Passover is 'the Lord's Passover.'

John 5:1

Context: Mentions 'a feast of the Jews,' showing the feasts had become associated with the Jews rather than God.

John 7:2

Context: Calls the feast of tabernacles 'the Jews' feast,' further illustrating the shift.

Hosea 12:9

Context: God declares He will make them dwell in tabernacles, showing the feast was originally His.

Zechariah 14:16

Context: The feast of tabernacles is called a feast to the Lord, emphasizing its divine origin.

Matthew 15:1-9

Context: Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for making God's commandments void by their traditions, explaining how feasts became 'the Jews'.'

John 1:19

Context: The Jews sent priests and Levites, indicating a ruling authority, not all Judeans.

Acts 4:6

Context: Shows the high priestly clique gathered together, illustrating the power elite.

John 2:18-22

Context: After cleansing the temple, 'the Jews' questioned Jesus; Weaver argues these were the temple authorities.

1 Corinthians 1:22

Context: The Jews require a sign; Weaver says this refers to the elite, not all Jews.

Matthew 12:38-39

Context: Certain scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign, identifying who required signs.

John 5:15-18

Context: The Jews persecuted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath; Weaver says this was the ruling clique, not all Judeans.

John 9:13-22

Context: The Pharisees are called 'the Jews' who agreed to excommunicate anyone confessing Christ, showing their authority.

John 19:6-7

Context: The chief priests and officers are called 'the Jews' who demanded crucifixion.

John 20:19

Context: The disciples feared 'the Jews,' meaning the authorities who could imprison them.

Acts 4:1-3,23

Context: The priests, captain, and Sadducees arrested the apostles; later called 'the chief priests and elders,' the persecuting elite.

Acts 5:17-18

Context: The high priest and Sadducees imprisoned the apostles, part of the power cartel.

Historical References

Jews against Zionism (organization)

Context: Weaver quotes a statement from Jews against Zionism that being anti-Israel is not anti-Semitic and that Israel is not supported by the majority of world Jewry.

Jack Bernstein (Jewish author)

Context: Weaver quotes Bernstein stating that Zionism is a political movement started by East European Ashkenazi Jews, aiming for one world government.

Dr. Henry Makow (Jewish author)

Context: Weaver reads an extended quote from Makow about an Illuminati, Kabbalah Jewish conspiracy controlling media, promoting moral decay, and Judaizing Christianity.

Rabbi Joshua Trachtenberg (author of 'The Devil and the Jews')

Context: Makow's comments are on Trachtenberg's book; Trachtenberg was a Reformed rabbi for 30 years.

Ariel Sharon (former Israeli Prime Minister)

Context: Mentioned in the Jews against Zionism quote as not speaking for all Jewish people.

Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister)

Context: Weaver acknowledges Netanyahu as the current leader at the time of the sermon, in passing.

Important Quotes

He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion.

Significance: Establishes Weaver's key distinction between ethnic descent and religious identity, foundational to his argument.

And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that? And the Jews' Passover was at hand. So my question is really, when did the Passover become the Jews' Passover?

Significance: Highlights the shift from God-ordained feasts to human-corrupted traditions, a central evidence of the elite's perversion.

The common people heard him gladly.

Significance: Demonstrates that the ordinary Judeans were not the persecutors; the hostility came from the ruling clique.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Significance: Paul's harsh warning against a certain circumcision party, showing the severity of the threat from this elite.

Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation.

Significance: A Jewish author's critique that Weaver uses to argue that modern Christianity has been corrupted by the same elite.

Outside of Jesus Christ and his word, everything else is a lie.

Significance: Weaver's emphatic conclusion that truth is exclusively found in Christ, reinforcing the need for biblical fidelity.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding 'the Jews' as a ruling elite rather than all Judeans change your reading of the Gospels and Acts?

Context: Weaver argues that many references to 'the Jews' denote the power clique that opposed Jesus and the apostles.

In what ways can religious traditions become 'the Jews' feasts' today, obscuring God's original intent?

Context: Weaver shows how the Passover and other feasts shifted from being the Lord's to being associated with human traditions.

Why do you think the common people heard Jesus gladly while the leaders sought to kill Him?

Context: Weaver contrasts the response of the ordinary people with that of the ruling elite.

How should believers respond to the warning in Philippians 3:2 to 'beware of dogs, beware of evil workers'?

Context: Weaver applies Paul's warning to a specific group that subverts the faith, not all circumcised individuals.

What does it mean for Christianity to be 'Judaized' according to the quote Weaver shared, and do you see evidence of this today?

Context: Weaver quotes a Jewish author claiming Christianity has been corrupted to focus on social change rather than salvation.

How can we ensure we are continuing in Christ's word and not being deceived by modern 'elites'?

Context: Weaver concludes with John 8:31-32, urging believers to abide in Jesus' teaching to know the truth and be free.

Applications

Discern the biblical use of 'Jews'

Summary: Believers should carefully examine the context of the term 'Jews' in Scripture to understand whether it refers to ethnicity, religion, or a ruling elite.

Evidence: When you see the word 'Jews' in the Bible, you need to look at the context. (3695.0-3742.2s)

Continue in Christ's word

Summary: True discipleship is evidenced by abiding in Jesus' teaching, which leads to knowing the truth and experiencing freedom.

Evidence: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (3580.2-3609.4s)

Reject human traditions that nullify God's commands

Summary: Believers must be vigilant against traditions and teachings that contradict or replace God's Word, as the Pharisees did.

Evidence: Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (578.5-606.0s)

Recognize spiritual warfare behind persecution

Summary: The opposition faced by Jesus and the apostles was part of the ongoing war between Christ and Satan, which continues today.

Evidence: It is a war between Christ and Satan. It was a war that was prophesied back in Genesis 3 and verse 15. (3048.2-3070.3s)

Find freedom exclusively in Christ

Summary: Only Jesus Christ and His Word provide true freedom; everything else is deception and bondage.

Evidence: Outside of Jesus Christ and his word, everything else is a lie. (3695.0-3742.2s)

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T01:15:06Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T15:20:16Z

Clean Transcript

Jews, Judaism And Christianity - Part 5 of 5

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Open our Bibles to John chapter 8, and we'll read verses 30 through 32, and I think we'll begin there. I'll take a few moments to review. This is the fifth and final installment of the brief series on Jews, Judaism, and Christianity. So John chapter 8, notice verse 30: "And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed."
#1 | 0:13 to 0:48 | cleaned
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Now, we've covered a lot of ground in the last four messages. However, we've got an awful lot of ground to cover today, so you need to hold on to your seats and keep your fingers limber because we'll be turning to an awful lot of scriptures as well. If you'll remember, in the first message, I pointed out how that Jesus Christ was a Judean in the sense that he was from the tribe of Judah.
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Maybe I should say it more correctly: He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion. And of course, our Lord was only born in the land of Judea, stayed there less than two years. He was conceived in Nazareth and raised and lived in Nazareth, which is the northern kingdom, not the southern kingdom. He was indeed of the tribe of Judah, but he was not a Jew. He was a Judahite.
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Moreover, I pointed out in the second message how all of the apostles, with the exception of Judas, were Galileans. Judas was the only one from the land of Judea. He's from Kerioth, which is south of Hebron toward Edom. And certainly when you get to the book of Acts chapter 2, they ask, "Are not all these Galileans, which we hear every man in his own tongue?" In the third message, I pointed out how the Judaizers were individuals who tried to mix law and grace.
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They're the ones who said it's all right to believe in Jesus, but if you really wanted to be saved, then you had to be circumcised and you had to keep the tradition of the elders and all this kind of stuff. I also showed you how that a believer, even a non-Jew, can act like a Jew, because that is how and why Paul confronted Peter in Galatians chapter 2. And of course, to become a Jew is to fulfill the traditions and the ceremonies and the customs, etc. And of course, when Paul confronted Peter, he nailed him to the wall because the issue of the gospel was at stake. In the fourth message, I showed you how God addressed his people.
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Neither God nor any of the disciples ever began their messages by saying, "Hey, you Jews." Obviously, our Lord talked about the people or Israel. And then when the apostles preached, they referred to them either as the people or "men and brethren of Israel, let me speak to you," et cetera. So obviously, they did not refer to them as Jews. You have to remember that only the southern kingdom were the people referred to as Jews.
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We saw that in 2 Kings chapter 16 and verse 6. There were, you could say it like this, there were Judahites that were Israelites, but not all Israelites were Judahites because many of the Israelites lived in other places in the land as well. There's also a distinction in the Bible between the people and the Jews. Let me just point it out like this: The Jews, the group that I'm talking about right now, basically became a law unto themselves and they changed the worship of God. They even changed the ordinances of God, and they basically became a law unto themselves. So they took the ceremonies of God and perverted them. For instance, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of John chapter 2, and then we're going to the book of Exodus and then to the book of Leviticus. John chapter 2, and notice if you would please verse 13. John 2 and verse 13. Here's a very interesting passage, and I'll show you others that have similar wordings.
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But in John 2 and verse 13, the Bible says, "And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that? "And the Jews' Passover was at hand." So my question is really, when did the Passover become the Jews' Passover? If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 12. Exodus chapter 12. Exodus 12, and let's begin reading there in verse 11. Exodus 12 verse 11, notice what the scripture says, and God says, "And thus shall you eat it with your loins girded and your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand, and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover." Hmm. Skip down, if you would, to verse 27. Exodus 12 verse 27, he says again, "Thus you shall say, It is a sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head in worship." Note, "You shall say, It is the Lord's Passover." If you look in Leviticus 23 and verse 5, Leviticus 23 in verse 5, in this passage we're told, Leviticus 23 verse 5, "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover." So somehow
#8 | 4:49 to 6:31 | cleaned
the Passover left the Lord and became the Jews' Passover. In other words, they manipulated the ordinance. If you look in your Bibles to John chapter 5 and verse 1, I'll give you another illustration. John 5 and verse 1. Notice if you would, we'll then go to John 7, but look in John 5 and verse 1. "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Note, "After this there was a feast of the Jews." Now look in John 7, if you would, and verse 2. John 7 in verse 2. The Bible says, "Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." So how did all of these feasts become the feasts of the Jews? Well, if you'd look in your Bibles to the book of Hosea chapter 12 and verse 9. Hosea 12 in verse 9. Look what God said. Hosea 12 verse 9, "And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast."
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"I the Lord thy God will make thee to dwell in tabernacles." In other words, the feast of tabernacles was a feast of the Lord. It was that which he ordained. In the book of Zechariah, which is right before the book of Malachi, the book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16, watch it. The book of Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 16: "And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles."
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So all of these feasts were God's feasts. He ordained them. He is the one that instituted them. He is the one that said how they were to be observed.
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Now I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 15, and I hope now that you can begin to understand what our Lord is saying to these Jews. Now I want you to look in Matthew chapter 15, beginning there with verse 1. Matthew 15 verse 1. Note if you would who came. Matthew 15 verse 1: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?"
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"For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother, and he that curseth father and mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."
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Now watch carefully, "Ye hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." So we see that these feasts and these ceremonies that belong to the Lord now became the feasts and the ceremonies of the Jews.
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So, you have to ask, how did the changes occur? Now, I want to answer that by pointing out a new way that the word "Jews" is used in scripture. I hinted at it last week. I even said it, but I'm going to show it to you with a multiplicity of verses today. Usually when we talk about the Jews, we're talking about someone either from the tribe of Judah, or someone from the land of Judea, or someone from the southern kingdom, or we're talking about someone who has embraced Judaism, which is the Jews' religion according to Paul in Galatians chapter 1. But I also want to point out that sometimes the word "Jews" is used in the New Testament to indicate what you and I would call a ruling elite or a power-hungry, power-mad cartel. Wow. And you're going to find that these were differentiated from the people who lived in the land. For instance, let's begin with John chapter 1 and verse 19. Now, I read this passage last week, but I'm just going to use this as a springboard and begin to show you other passages.
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But notice if you would in John chapter 1 and verse 19. The Bible says, "And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"
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Now, I want you to note how this phrase is used. "When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him." Well, I pointed out from the book of Luke chapter 1, John himself was a Judean, that is he lived in the foothills of Judah. Certainly he was of the tribe of Levi, that is for sure. His father was a Levite and his mother was a Levite. But they lived in Judah because the father served at the temple, and so since he would have been a Judean in the sense that he lived there, isn't it strange? It says, "This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites." So you have to ask yourself this question: Did every Judean have the power and the authority to send priests and Levites to question someone?
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And the answer is no. The only one who had the power and authority to send priests and Levites would have been the high priest or the ruling class or the ruling clique at that particular time. And by the way, there was a clique in the priesthood, just like there was a clique in the Pharisees and a clique in the Sanhedrin. I'll show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4 and verse 6. Acts 4 and verse 6. Interestingly, Acts 4 verse 6. Watch. You talking about nepotism? You talking about a clique? Here it is. Acts 4 verse 6: "And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem." Look, here's this whole power clique coming together. And they're asking the apostles, "By what authority and by what power and by what
#18 | 12:32 to 13:37 | cleaned
name have you done this?" But note if you would here, here is Annas and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and note the phrase, "and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest." Everybody in this little clique came together. Now I want you to turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 2. In John chapter 2, our Lord cleanses the temple, and I want you to look in John chapter 2 beginning there with verse 18. After our Lord has thrown over the money changers' tables and drove them out of the temple, look in verse 18: "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I'll raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body."
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"When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them, and they believed the scriptures and the word which Jesus had said." Now, go back to verse 18. After he's overthrown the money changers' tables in the temple and those that sold doves, "Then the Jews said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us?" Now you would have to ask yourself this question: Which Jews? And why are they asking for a sign?
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew 12. You turn there. I want to quote a scripture for you and explain something as you're turning to Matthew chapter 12. In 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 22, the Bible says, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." Now here's my question: Did all the Jews require a sign? Did all Greeks seek after wisdom? No. Not all Jews required a sign.
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It was just the ruling elite. It was the power cartel. Not all Greeks sought after wisdom. It was the philosophers. It was the elite in the Greek lands, but it was not necessarily every Greek. If you will look in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there in verse 38, you will find who it was that required a sign. Matthew 12 verse 38: "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas." Now you have to remember, I've told you in the last message how that the Sadducees and the Pharisees and Herodians all worked together to get rid of Christ, and they were the ruling clique.
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There was a group even among these individuals. Now, when our Lord healed a man by the pool of Bethesda, that is in John chapter 5, if you will turn there, John chapter 5, our Lord has healed this lame man by the pool of Bethesda. And look if you would what is said in verses 15 and 16. John chapter 5 verses 15 and 16. After he has been healed, the Bible says, "The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day." Now, when the man told the Jews, you've got to remember, go back if you would to verse 1 of John chapter 5: "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches." So Jesus is in Jerusalem, which is in Judea, where everybody would be Judeans or Jews. And now the Bible says in verse 15, "The man departed and told it to the Jews."
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Well, who did he tell it to? Did he tell it to every Judean? The answer is no. Watch, if you would, verse 16: "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath day." Did every Judean seek to persecute Christ and slay? No. I'll quote the scripture a little bit later, but the Bible says the common people heard him gladly.
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They weren't trying to kill him. It was the powers that be that were trying to kill him and trying to slay him. It's just that simple.
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Now, look if you would please verse 18. Here it is even plainer: "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the Sabbath"—that is their interpretation of it—"but also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God." So here's this group that is in control, that has power and authority, that are trying to execute, to kill, to murder Christ, and later on the apostles as well. So turn right on over to John chapter 9, because in John chapter 9, our Lord heals a man who was blind from birth. Never before had this been done. So in John chapter 9, let's begin reading with verse 13. After our Lord heals the man, "They brought him to the Pharisees, him that aforetime was blind." Remember now, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, they're all in it together. So they brought him to the Pharisees. "And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight."
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"He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?"
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"He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews"—note this term, "but the Jews"—now wait a minute, go back if you would to verse 13, "They brought him to the Pharisees." Brought him to the Pharisees. Now they are called the Jews. Verse 18: "But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been born blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight." Now watch carefully. "And they asked them, saying, Is this your son whom you say was born blind?"
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"How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age, ask him." So let me ask you a question. They brought him to the Pharisees, and yet now the Pharisees are called the Jews. And now the Jews had already agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Who had the power and the authority to excommunicate and put someone out of the synagogue? Did every Jew have that power and authority?
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And the answer is no. The ruler of the synagogue, whoever was in the clique, would have that power and that authority, but not just every individual. So here again, the term "Jews" is used interchangeably with Pharisees. Sometimes it's used interchangeably with Sadducees or chief priests or elders and scribes. But it's talking about a power elite. It's talking about a cartel. Look in your Bibles to John chapter 19. It's amazing once you begin to see this, how many times you see it in the New Testament. Look in John chapter 19, verses 6 and 7. Christ is before Pilate. Look in verse 5: "Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said unto them, Behold the man!" Now watch. "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him." Let me ask you, look carefully now. Who is it that's crying out? The chief priests and the officers. They cry out, "Crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of
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God." Now wait a minute. Pilate is talking to the chief priests and to the officers, and he says, "Take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." The Jews answered. Well, who are the Jews? They're the same ones in verse 6, the chief priests and the officers. You see how that is being used? So the Jews here does not refer to every Judean. It does not refer to every Judahite.
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It's referring to this one little power group that wants our Lord crucified and dead and out of the way. So, obviously, clearly here it is indeed a group. The context demands that the Jews in verse 7 be equated to the chief priests and the officers in verse 6, because that's who's doing the speaking. Look in John chapter 20 and verse 19. John 20 verse 19: "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be unto you." Now let me ask you, were the disciples afraid of every Judean? Well, of course not. They preached to them. They witnessed to them. Why then are they afraid of the Jews? Who is it that has the authority and the power to bind them and imprison them and to put them to death? It's that little power-mad ruling elite. Let me show you. They were afraid of these individuals referred to as the Jews.
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Who were the ruling elite who had in their mind that they were going to stamp out Christ and Christianity? These were the ones who were always grieved with the preaching and teaching of the apostles. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4, and let's read the first three verses. Acts 4: "And as they spake unto the people"—now look, look who comes—"as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead."
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"And they laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for it is now eventide." Now you see the group that they were afraid of. It was these people who had the power to arrest them. Look, if you would, please. They, of course, did so. But skip down to verse 23. Watch what is said in verse 23: "And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them." So this is the group that's persecuting them. This is the group that is harassing them constantly. Look in Acts chapter 5, verses 17 and 18. Just showing you, here's this power-mad cartel. It can be Pharisee, it can be Sadducee, it can be Herodian. There was a clique in every one of them. Notice Acts chapter 5 verse 17: "Then the high priest rose up and all they which were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison."
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I hope you're beginning to see, when they were in that room for fear of the Jews, it was not every Judahite or Judean. It was this little group that had the authority to imprison them.
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Now, look in your Bibles, Acts chapter 13. Acts 13, and let's begin reading there verse 42. In fact, let's read verse 41 because Paul is preaching. In verse 41 he says, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now, when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews or the Judeans and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Well, I have no problem here with verse 42 and verse 43 referring just to the Judahites or whoever was in that synagogue. It could have either been from the tribe of Judah or they could have been living in the land of Judea. But skip down to verse 44: "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God."
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Now watch: "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 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. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts." Now when you look at the word "the Jews" in verse 45 and the word "the Jews" in verse 50, you've got a different group
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of people. Who is it that has influence over the honorable women and the chief men of the city, enough influence to raise up persecution against the apostles? It's not the ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill Judean. It has to be someone that has some influence and some power. Remember I told you earlier that I would give you the verse, but in Mark 12 and verse 37, the Bible says, "The common people heard him gladly." So it wasn't the common people that were upset with him, nor the common people that were upset with the apostles. It's the ones who were in power. Every time you find trouble being stirred up, it's always the Pharisees or the Sadducees
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or the Herodians or a mixture of them. That's what it is. Now let me point out the fact: It is the same exact situation that we have today. I don't care what group you have. I do not care how conservative it is. I don't care how constitutional it is. I don't care how Christian it is. Inevitably, invariably, there's always going to be an infiltrator. There will be a plant.
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There will be a mole. And someone is going to seek to stir up trouble and even violence. And guess what? Inevitably, he works for the government. Same thing. Times have not changed. At least the principles by which the wicked work have not changed. So we have the same thing going on today that went on in Bible times. So I want you to turn to Acts 23, because it's important that you see that this term "the Jews" is oftentimes used to refer to a ruling or controlling elite and does not necessarily refer to all Judeans all the time or every time you read it in the Bible. So look at Acts chapter 23, beginning there with verse 12. Acts 23 in verse 12, the Bible says, "And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy." And they, that is these Judeans, they came to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul." By the way, I guess they starved to death because they never killed him, but they bound themselves under a
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great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul. "Now therefore ye with the council"—notice this now—"ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him." And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he hath a certain thing to tell him." So he took him and brought him to the chief captain and said, "Paul the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee." And the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately and asked him, "What is that thou hast to tell me?" Now watch, and he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire something more perfectly of him." Now
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wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hmm. Go back to verse 15: "Now therefore ye with the council." We're talking about the Sadducees, the Pharisees. We're talking about this ruling elite. And now they're referred to as the Jews. "The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire something more perfectly of him. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him."
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"And now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me." But note if you would, here's the council, and now it's referred to in verse 20 as the Jews. So here is this ruling elite.
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Now, you have to ask yourself this question: To whom, then, does the word "Jews" refer? Obviously, it does not refer to every Judean or every Judahite. It just simply refers to this ruling elite, this cartel. Look in Acts 24 and verse 1. Acts 24, verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul." Now watch carefully. Who was it that came down? Ananias the high priest and the elders and their attorney. Now skip down to verse 27, the last verse in that chapter: "But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." Really? Which Jews? Go back to verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders." There are the Jews that he's doing the favor for. He's leaving the apostle Paul bound. It's not every Judahite. It's not every Judean. It's these ruling elite that we have here in Acts chapter 24.
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Now, look in Acts chapter 25 verses 1 and 2. Acts 25 verses 1 and 2.
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"Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him." Note if you would, hmm, the high priest and the chief of the Jews. Skip down to verse 7: "And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove." So who are the Jews here that are bringing all these complaints? Well, these are the ones that came with Festus down and lodging these complaints against the apostle Paul. Now look if you would please at verse 8: "While he answered for himself"—here's what Paul said—"Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing." But note, "the law of the Jews."
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Remember Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He knew what they believed. He knew what their customs and traditions were. And so he says, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor yet against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing." Watch verse 9: "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure"—which Jews? Go back to verse 2: "the high priest and the chief of the Jews"—those who are the ruling power elite. If you want to look in verses 14 and 15, same chapter, Acts 25 verse 14 and 15: "And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him." Wow. Look if you would please verse 17: "Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of
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one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." So, here are the Jews. Here are the ones that are always causing the problem. Look in Acts chapter 26 verse 1: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews."
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Now stop and ask yourself, who was accusing the apostle Paul? It was the chief priests. It was the scribes. It was the Pharisees. It was the Sadducees. Watch verse 3: "Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently." So Paul in verse 2 said he was accused of the Jews. Was every Judean accusing him? No.
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If you go back to Acts 24, Acts 25—don't turn back there, but we just read these—it's the chief priests and the elders that have come down and are laying these grievous complaints against the apostle Paul. Now, I want to show you from the Bible the group that the apostle Paul is talking about. I want to show you the group that fought against Jesus Christ, that fought against the apostles, and that are still fighting against Christ and the preaching of the Word of God. Look in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 14, and by the way, you need to slow down and read verse 14. Watch carefully. 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 14: "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in
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Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews." Now, wait a minute. Did you just read with me what I read? "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus." So he's talking about these Judeans who believed. They left Judaism. They came to Christ. There are now churches in Judea which are in Christ Jesus. Look: "For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews."
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What is the apostle saying? The apostle is saying, here are some Jews that have persecuted Judean Christians. And notice, if you would, he's not calling the Judean Christians Jews. He's calling someone else Jews. Well, who is he calling the Jews? Watch verse 14, the latter part: "For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to
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all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." Note, if you would, the apostle says, I will tell you who the Jews are. They're the ones that murdered the Lord Jesus. They murdered their own prophets. They persecute us. They please not God. They're contrary to all men. They forbid us to preach and speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. They're always filling up their sins, and wrath is coming upon them to the absolute uttermost. Wow.
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So it's not all the Judeans that he's talking about here. It's talking about this ruling clique that had the power to have Christ crucified, to persecute the apostles, to imprison them, to kill their own prophets. And they forbid the preaching of the Word of God. By the way, I hope you know that you cannot go as a missionary to Israel today and open a church and preach there. They forbid the preaching of the Word of God. You cannot proselytize. You cannot witness in the land of Israel today. Look in your Bibles to the book of Titus. Turn over 1 and 2 Timothy and then Titus. Titus chapter 1, notice if you would verse 10 and 11. Titus 1 verse 10, watch carefully. The apostle Paul says, "For there are
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many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." Now, go back and look at verse 10. He says, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision." So he's talking about the Jews. Then he says in verse 11, "whose mouths must be stopped." Now, here's my question: Is he talking about every Judean? Is he talking about every Judahite?
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And the answer is no. Because he is saying that these individuals whose mouths must be stopped subvert whole houses. And they teach things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake. And you're going to see, before I close, they not only subvert whole houses, they subvert whole communities and societies and states, even nations. Now I want you to look in the book of Philippians chapter 3. Go back a few books: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Philippians chapter 3, and notice if you would beginning there with verse 1. I'm just pointing out how Paul singles out this class that he calls the Jews. Look in Philippians chapter 3 in verse 1: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Now go back if you would and look at verse 2. Paul says, "Beware of dogs." He's not talking about the four-legged kind.
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He's talking about the two-legged kind. "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision," or the circumcision. So he's calling a certain group of Jews dogs. He's calling them evil workers. Now let me point out, if you interpret this passage to refer to every individual who is circumcised, then you would have to also interpret this passage to say that we have to beware of all Christians. And we have to beware of ourselves, because verse 3 says, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." So there's a certain concision or certain circumcision that he's warning people about, that he's calling them dogs and evil workers. So obviously it is not every Judean or every Judahite, anyone who just happens to be circumcised, because he says that we as Christians are the true circumcision. Now the entire point that I've been trying to make has been this: that when individuals came to Jesus Christ, they left Judaism, they embraced Christianity, they
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became Christians, they became followers of Jesus Christ. And think about this: in the New Testament, there were a lot of people converted to Jesus Christ. 3,000 on the day of Pentecost. A few days later, 5,000 added. But have you ever noticed as you read through the New Testament, very few of the rulers were ever converted. You could name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night. You could probably name Crispus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. But how many more can you name in scripture? Very few.
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The point I'm trying to make is it is that power elite, that little cartel that had the power, who said in John 11 and verses 47 and 48, "We've got to do something about this man. Because if we don't, everybody's going to believe on him. And the Romans are going to come and take away both our place and our nation. We won't have anybody to rule over. We won't have any power. We won't have any authority."
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In other words, it's there. And by the way, this is exactly where we are today. I have heard, I have read, you have heard, you have read, the Jews rule the world. Well, not every Jew rules the world. Not every Judean rules the world. No, but when you stop and think, who has control of Hollywood? Who has control of TV? Who has control of the news media?
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All I'm trying to show you is this: In the New Testament, there was a cartel, there was an evil group whom Paul called dogs and evil workers, who were after Jesus Christ, trying to have him killed, who were after the apostles, who were after anyone who stood for anything that was right. As it was then, so it is now. It is a war between Christ and Satan. It was a war that was prophesied back in Genesis 3 and verse 15, which is known as the Protevangelium, the first promise of the Messiah.
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And what did the Bible say there? That the serpent was going to bruise Christ's heel, but Christ was going to bruise his head. In other words, there's going to be some problems with Satan, but ultimately he's going to be defeated and destroyed. A bruise on the heel is not nearly as deadly as a bruise on the head. But it's the same group and it's the same battle.
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Now, what a lot of people may not understand is this: There are a lot of Jews that are against Zionism. Zionism is not necessarily even Judaism. In fact, if you go on the internet and just type in "Jews against Zionism," you'd be amazed at all the information that you can get. Here's one quote that I got. Listen carefully. Of course, I know Netanyahu is the one today, but this was done when Sharon was still in power. But here is what Jews against Zionism stated: "Contrary to the propaganda put out by Israel supporters, Israel is not supported by the majority of the world's Jewish people. Ariel Sharon does not speak for all Jewish people, and being anti-Israel is not anti-Semitic." Notice that, and that is put out by Jews. Jack Bernstein, obviously Jewish, said this—listen carefully: "Judaism is a religion, but Zionism is a political movement started mainly by East European Ashkenazi Jews who for centuries have been the main force behind communism and socialism.
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The ultimate goal of the Zionists is one world government under the control of the Zionist and the Zionist-oriented German Jewish international bankers." Wow. What is he saying? There's a cartel. There's an evil cartel that is trying to control the entire world. I want to read to you an article, part of an article written by Dr. Henry Makow, M-A-K-O-W. He's a Jewish author.
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You're talking about someone who nails this very clearly. And to be honest, he says some things in this quote that I'm going to give you that, unhappily, a lot of Christians do not even see. I want you to listen to what he says. Dr. Henry Makow, he's commenting on a book—and I do have the book. The book is entitled "The Devil and the Jews," written by Rabbi Joshua Trachtenberg, who died in 1959. But here's what Dr. Makow says: "Illuminati, Kabbalah Jews, and their Masonic henchmen don't want Jews or others to understand the hidden subversive occult character of the collective Jewish enterprise. They don't want Jews to understand that anti-Semitism throughout the ages was not irrational. This realization would empower Gentiles and allow the lesser brethren"—he's talking about Jews—"to escape their roles as dupes, scapegoats, human shields, and human sacrifices for their demented leadership. Kabbalah Jews believe that they define God's will.
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In other words, God comes into the world through them. Otherwise, He is formless and unknowable.
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Now listen: "The Kabbalistic conspiracy is on the cusp of success. God has been banished from public life." Let me just stop there. What I'm about to say right now is not a quote. But it's not just prayer and Bible reading kicked out of public schools. I don't have any sympathy for public schools anyhow. But I'm just simply saying, you can't even bring a Bible in a workplace today. You can't even wear Christian jewelry because it's offensive. You know, this is exactly what he's saying. God has been banished from public life. And he is saying that this little cartel of Jews are the ones doing it. Let me go on. I'm quoting now: "Illuminati Jews control the mass media and can deceive and degrade the masses.
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Entertainment is an orgy of pornography, obscenity, propaganda, violence, and Satanism." Wow, he's nailing it. I'm continuing: "Illuminati Jews and Masons behind feminism are responsible for the debauchery of Western women. They're behind the promotion of homosexuality designed to destroy marriage and the family. They are at the forefront of the sexual liberation, pornography and abortion. The mass media is obsessed with sex. It has a fawning fetish for fertile females and even children aren't safe.
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The stock market is a giant casino with millions trading daily. Christianity has been Judaized." This is a Jewish man saying this. "Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation. Christian Zionists are pledged to the Zionist rogue state. The Illuminati are destabilizing the third world using charities to empower females to reject marriage. Donors are invited to become an agent of change, which is a code for New World Order.
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They want girls to be educated, in other words, indoctrinated, as in the West. In general, they are feminizing the world, making women and their concerns central. Trachtenberg was a Reformed rabbi for 30 years. His portrait gazes down on his personal library housed at Temple Emeth in Tennec, New Jersey.
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Now listen to what he says: "He is one of the decent Jews like myself who have been used as a Trojan horse for the Illuminati under the aegis of communism, socialism, liberalism, feminism, Zionism, neoconservatism, and gay rights." Here's his last sentence. Listen: "We're all Jews now. Godless, deceived, degraded, unused. But at least we know where we stand and can act accordingly." Well, what did he mean when he said we're all Jews now?
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What he means is this: Just like that little power cartel in the New Testament used all the people, controlled the people, so we have this same cartel today that it does not matter what religion you are, does not matter what ethnicity you are, doesn't matter what group you are with or what group you are from, you're still being used and abused and subverted and enslaved and are being led as a lamb to the slaughter. That's what he means. That's exactly what he means.
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I find it interesting that he says Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than the spiritual development and salvation. How can someone who's unconverted have such insight? Let me show you. Go back in your Bible to John chapter 8. This is the passage we began with. Look in John chapter 8 and let's go back to verse 30. John 8 verse 30: "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
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And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Now go back to verse 31: "Then said Jesus to those Jews"—or those Judeans—"who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, here it is, then are ye truly my disciples." In other words, the evidence that you've ever been genuinely converted is that you continue in his word. And he said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
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I want you to listen to me. Only Jesus Christ can make us free. Only his word can make us free. If you do not want to be used, if you don't want to be abused, if you don't want to be a slave, if you don't want to be led as a lamb to the slaughter, then you need to know Jesus Christ. You need to know his word. You need to know his law. And you need to bring your life in conformity to it. Jesus Christ is freedom. Jesus Christ is truth, and there is no freedom and there is no truth outside of Jesus Christ. Let me put it bluntly: Outside of Jesus Christ and his word, everything else is a lie. Everything else is a lie. If you want to get your theology from CNN and Dan Rather, have at it, but you have to understand truth is only found in Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So obviously, when you see the word "Jews" in the Bible, you need to look at the context. You need to determine whether he's talking about someone from the tribe of Judah, someone from the southern kingdom, someone who
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happens to live in Judea, someone who embraces the Jews' religion, or if he's talking about this power elite, this cartel that is trying to run everything and everybody. And then remember, I want to be free. So I'm gonna obey Christ and bring my life in conformity to his words. Amen. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace, your mercy, your goodness, your kindness. Thank you for truth. Help us to live for thee. Help us to be holy and godly and obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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so so
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T01:15:06Z

Jews, Judaism And Christianity - Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this final installment, Pastor Weaver argues that the term 'Jews' in the New Testament often refers not to all Judeans but to a ruling elite or power cartel—chief priests, Pharisees, Sadducees—who opposed Christ and the apostles. He traces how God-ordained feasts became 'the Jews' feasts' through human traditions, and shows from multiple passages that this clique persecuted believers, controlled religious authority, and sought to kill Jesus and Paul. Weaver draws a parallel to a modern elite that he claims controls media, promotes moral decay, and opposes true Christianity, urging believers to find freedom only in Christ and His Word.

Introduction and Review

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed." "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The Jews' Feasts vs. the Lord's Feasts

Weaver shows from John, Exodus, and Leviticus that the Passover and other feasts were originally 'the Lord's' but became 'the Jews'' through human manipulation and tradition.

But in John 2 and verse 13, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — John 2:13

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem."

Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that?

Scripture Reading — John 2:13

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 12:11,27

the Passover left the Lord and became the Jews' Passover. In other words, they manipulated the ordinance. If you look in your Bibles to John chapter 5 and verse 1, I'll give you another illustration. John 5 and verse 1. Notice if you would, we'll then go to John 7, but look in John 5 and verse 1. "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Note, "After this there was a feast of the Jews." Now look in John 7, if you would, and verse 2. John 7 in verse 2. The Bible says, "Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." So how did all of these feasts become the feasts of the Jews? Well, if you'd look in your Bibles to the book of Hosea chapter 12 and verse 9. Hosea 12 in verse 9. Look what God said. Hosea 12 verse 9, "And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast."

So all of these feasts were God's feasts. He ordained them. He is the one that instituted them. He is the one that said how they were to be observed.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:1-9

"Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?" "For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother, and he that curseth father and mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

The Jews as a Ruling Elite

Weaver introduces the idea that 'the Jews' often denotes a power-hungry cartel, not all Judeans. He begins with John 1:19, where the Jews sent priests and Levites, indicating a ruling authority.

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:6

"And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem."

Look, here's this whole power clique coming together. And they're asking the apostles, "By what authority and by what power and by what

Scriptural Evidence for the Cartel

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:6

"And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem."

Look, here's this whole power clique coming together. And they're asking the apostles, "By what authority and by what power and by what

Now, look if you would please verse 18. Here it is even plainer:

Scripture Reading — John 5:15-18

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the Sabbath"

—that is their interpretation of it—

Scripture Reading — John 5:15-18

"but also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God."

Scripture Reading — John 20:19

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be unto you."

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"And as they spake unto the people"

—now look, look who comes—

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead." "And they laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for it is now eventide."

Scripture Reading — Acts 4:1-3,23

"Then the high priest rose up and all they which were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison."

Paul's Identification of the Persecuting Jews

Warnings Against the Circumcision Party

Modern Parallel: A Controlling Elite

Freedom in Christ Alone

Weaver concludes by returning to John 8:30-32, urging believers to continue in Christ's word to know the truth and be free. He asserts that only Jesus provides true freedom and truth.

Jews, Judaism And Christianity - Part 5 of 5

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	ITciZoXjJgY
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2015-10-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 088: Jews, Judaism And Christianity — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	77

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the series, emphasizing that Jesus was a Judahite, not a Jew by religion, and that the apostles were Galileans. He recaps how Judaizers mixed law and grace, and how God addressed His people as Israel, not 'Jews.'
The Jews' Feasts vs. the Lord's Feasts: Weaver shows from John, Exodus, and Leviticus that the Passover and other feasts were originally 'the Lord's' but became 'the Jews'' through human manipulation and tradition.
The Jews as a Ruling Elite: Weaver introduces the idea that 'the Jews' often denotes a power-hungry cartel, not all Judeans. He begins with John 1:19, where the Jews sent priests and Levites, indicating a ruling authority.
Scriptural Evidence for the Cartel: Weaver cites multiple passages (John 2, 5, 9, 19; Acts 4, 5, 13, 23-26) where 'the Jews' are equated with chief priests, Pharisees, and elders who persecuted Jesus and the apostles, not the common people.
Paul's Identification of the Persecuting Jews: In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul describes the Jews who killed Jesus and the prophets, persecuted believers, and forbid preaching to Gentiles. Weaver argues this refers to the ruling clique, not all Judeans.
Warnings Against the Circumcision Party: Weaver examines Philippians 3:2 and Titus 1:10-11, where Paul calls certain Jews 'dogs' and 'evil workers' whose mouths must be stopped. He clarifies this targets a specific group, not all circumcised individuals.
Modern Parallel: A Controlling Elite: Weaver draws a parallel between the New Testament cartel and a modern elite that controls media, promotes immorality, and opposes Christianity. He quotes Jewish critics of Zionism and a Jewish author who describes an Illuminati conspiracy.
Freedom in Christ Alone: Weaver concludes by returning to John 8:30-32, urging believers to continue in Christ's word to know the truth and be free. He asserts that only Jesus provides true freedom and truth.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Jesus was not a Jew by religion

Jesus was a Judahite by tribe but not a practitioner of Judaism; He was raised in Galilee and opposed the traditions that had corrupted God's law.

He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion. (77.3-104.4s)

The term 'Jews' often means the ruling clique

In many New Testament passages, 'the Jews' refers specifically to the chief priests, Pharisees, and elders who held power and persecuted Christ and the apostles.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him... Which Jews? And why are they asking for a sign? (885.6-964.2s) and the context shows it was the ruling elite.

The common people were not the persecutors

The ordinary Judeans often heard Jesus gladly; it was the leaders who sought to kill Him and later the apostles.

The common people heard him gladly. (1860.8-1895.6s)

Paul identified the persecuting Jews as a specific group

In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul describes the Jews who killed Jesus and the prophets, not all Judeans, but the same power elite.

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us... (2553.3-2590.9s)

The modern elite mirrors the biblical cartel

A contemporary group, often associated with Zionism and international banking, controls media and culture to subvert society, just as the New Testament elite did.

The ultimate goal of the Zionists is one world government under the control of the Zionist and the Zionist-oriented German Jewish international bankers. (3158.0-3195.1s)

Christianity has been Judaized

Weaver quotes a Jewish author who claims Christianity has been corrupted to focus on social change rather than spiritual salvation, a sign of the elite's influence.

Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation. (3379.4-3419.3s)

Scripture References

John 8:30-32: Weaver opens and closes with this passage, emphasizing that continuing in Christ's word leads to true discipleship and freedom.
John 2:13: Used to show that the Passover is called 'the Jews' Passover' instead of the Lord's, indicating corruption of the ordinance.
Exodus 12:11,27: God originally called it 'the Lord's Passover,' contrasting with the later 'Jews' Passover.'
Leviticus 23:5: Reinforces that the Passover is 'the Lord's Passover.'
John 5:1: Mentions 'a feast of the Jews,' showing the feasts had become associated with the Jews rather than God.
John 7:2: Calls the feast of tabernacles 'the Jews' feast,' further illustrating the shift.
Hosea 12:9: God declares He will make them dwell in tabernacles, showing the feast was originally His.
Zechariah 14:16: The feast of tabernacles is called a feast to the Lord, emphasizing its divine origin.
Matthew 15:1-9: Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for making God's commandments void by their traditions, explaining how feasts became 'the Jews'.'
John 1:19: The Jews sent priests and Levites, indicating a ruling authority, not all Judeans.
Acts 4:6: Shows the high priestly clique gathered together, illustrating the power elite.
John 2:18-22: After cleansing the temple, 'the Jews' questioned Jesus; Weaver argues these were the temple authorities.
1 Corinthians 1:22: The Jews require a sign; Weaver says this refers to the elite, not all Jews.
Matthew 12:38-39: Certain scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign, identifying who required signs.
John 5:15-18: The Jews persecuted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath; Weaver says this was the ruling clique, not all Judeans.
John 9:13-22: The Pharisees are called 'the Jews' who agreed to excommunicate anyone confessing Christ, showing their authority.
John 19:6-7: The chief priests and officers are called 'the Jews' who demanded crucifixion.
John 20:19: The disciples feared 'the Jews,' meaning the authorities who could imprison them.
Acts 4:1-3,23: The priests, captain, and Sadducees arrested the apostles; later called 'the chief priests and elders,' the persecuting elite.
Acts 5:17-18: The high priest and Sadducees imprisoned the apostles, part of the power cartel.

Historical References

Jews against Zionism (organization): Weaver quotes a statement from Jews against Zionism that being anti-Israel is not anti-Semitic and that Israel is not supported by the majority of world Jewry.
Jack Bernstein (Jewish author): Weaver quotes Bernstein stating that Zionism is a political movement started by East European Ashkenazi Jews, aiming for one world government.
Dr. Henry Makow (Jewish author): Weaver reads an extended quote from Makow about an Illuminati, Kabbalah Jewish conspiracy controlling media, promoting moral decay, and Judaizing Christianity.
Rabbi Joshua Trachtenberg (author of 'The Devil and the Jews'): Makow's comments are on Trachtenberg's book; Trachtenberg was a Reformed rabbi for 30 years.
Ariel Sharon (former Israeli Prime Minister): Mentioned in the Jews against Zionism quote as not speaking for all Jewish people.
Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister): Weaver acknowledges Netanyahu as the current leader at the time of the sermon, in passing.

Important Quotes

He was a Judahite and not a Jew, because Judaism is a religion.

Establishes Weaver's key distinction between ethnic descent and religious identity, foundational to his argument.

And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Whoa, wait a minute. Did you just hear that? And the Jews' Passover was at hand. So my question is really, when did the Passover become the Jews' Passover?

Highlights the shift from God-ordained feasts to human-corrupted traditions, a central evidence of the elite's perversion.

The common people heard him gladly.

Demonstrates that the ordinary Judeans were not the persecutors; the hostility came from the ruling clique.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Paul's harsh warning against a certain circumcision party, showing the severity of the threat from this elite.

Christianity has been Judaized, concerned with social change, the Satanist agenda, rather than spiritual development and salvation.

A Jewish author's critique that Weaver uses to argue that modern Christianity has been corrupted by the same elite.

Outside of Jesus Christ and his word, everything else is a lie.

Weaver's emphatic conclusion that truth is exclusively found in Christ, reinforcing the need for biblical fidelity.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding 'the Jews' as a ruling elite rather than all Judeans change your reading of the Gospels and Acts?

[Context]

Weaver argues that many references to 'the Jews' denote the power clique that opposed Jesus and the apostles.

[Question]

In what ways can religious traditions become 'the Jews' feasts' today, obscuring God's original intent?

[Context]

Weaver shows how the Passover and other feasts shifted from being the Lord's to being associated with human traditions.

[Question]

Why do you think the common people heard Jesus gladly while the leaders sought to kill Him?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the response of the ordinary people with that of the ruling elite.

[Question]

How should believers respond to the warning in Philippians 3:2 to 'beware of dogs, beware of evil workers'?

[Context]

Weaver applies Paul's warning to a specific group that subverts the faith, not all circumcised individuals.

[Question]

What does it mean for Christianity to be 'Judaized' according to the quote Weaver shared, and do you see evidence of this today?

[Context]

Weaver quotes a Jewish author claiming Christianity has been corrupted to focus on social change rather than salvation.

[Question]

How can we ensure we are continuing in Christ's word and not being deceived by modern 'elites'?

[Context]

Weaver concludes with John 8:31-32, urging believers to abide in Jesus' teaching to know the truth and be free.

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