"The Problem With Matthew"
A Guide For Refuting Missionaries
Drashi (Reprinted with permission of author)

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DISCLAIMER
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Disclaimer Page

If you are a Christian, then I advise against reading any further. This book was not written for...

This eBook was not written to target a Christian audience, but a Jewish audience. The purpose of this eBook is to empower Jews to protect themselves against Christian missionaries, whether they call themselves Southern Baptists, Jews for Jesus, or any other organization bent on the assimilation of Jews into the Christian religion.

It is not the purpose of this eBook to convert Christians to Judaism, but only to prevent Jews from converting to Christianity because of misinformation and deceptive tactics that have been perpetrated by the Missionary community. Nor is my intent to invalidate Christianity to any Christian who was never a Jew. Unfortunately, in order to provide a convincing argument that Jews should remain Jews, I need to show the irreconcilable differences between Judaism and Christianity, and in showing those differences it is necessary that I often invalidate many of the areas that are important to the believing Christian. I cannot get around this problem of Lashon Hora (a category of speech that is destructive) and still present my case to fellow Jews in a precise and accurate manner.

The main problem with providing this information is this: For a Christian to deny the divinity of Jesus is to discard the basic tenants of Christianity and go against the core of what a Christian believes. For a Jew to accept the divinity of Jesus is to deny the basic tenants of Judaism and go against the core of what a Jew believes. The idea that a person can do both goes against the tenants of Judaism and Christianity; despite the fact that Christian Missionaries use that exact strategy to convert Jews.

That’s a process I want to put a stop to. And that is the foundation of this eBook. But if this was all there was to say, then I could stop right here.

There is more.

I need to provide background information as to why the core beliefs of Christianity are not the core beliefs of Judaism. And in doing this, I will be undermining many of the prophecies and stories that Christianity holds dear.

Frankly, the Christian who is solid in his or her faith will not be affected by what I have to say in the least. For example, I have read Christian books describing in fine logical detail why Judaism is flawed. But being an educated Jew who is grounded in his faith, I see the flaws in the Christian argument and disagree with their premise. So too would a well-grounded Christian. But to the Christian whose faith is shaky, there will definitely be a problem.

Therefore...

If you are a Christian, then I advise against reading any further.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
  The purpose of this book
  How I came to write thie eBook
  Hey it's no big deal!
  The perfect uneducated target
  The texts referenced in thie eBook
  What is the book of Matthew?
  There is a place for people of all faiths

Chapter 1
  Understanding the Missionary Problem
  Deceptive practices of Missionaries
  The easily deceived Jews
  They're grown-ups, aren't they?
  The highly trained Missionary
  Funny, you don't act Jewish
  The threat is real
  What Jews for Jesus really believe
  Jesus died for our sins?
  No one comes to G-d, excepts through Jesus?
  Jesus was the only righteous man who ever lived?
  Only accepting Jesus will save you from Hell?
  Belief in Jesus is a Jewish idea?
  Did Jews ever call themselves Messianic?
  You cannot have it both ways
  Judaism Redefined
  A Sample Dialog
  Those Jews
  Don't the Rabbis know?
  In Preparation

Chapter 2
  Understanding Jewish and Christian differences
  Incompatibilities explained
  More about those Jews
  It's not just us
  It's about respect
  Is it Christian or Jewish?
  Jewish Christians: an oxymoron
  Messiah as the son of David
  Lack of foresight
  The Messianic dance
  Joseph's lineage wasn't valid anyway
  Summerizing the lineage
  A Christ isn't the same as a Messiah
  Introducing the Christ
  Introducing Moshiach
  More differences
  Is baptism Jewish?
  Jesus was either a deity or nothing at all
  Meanings are important
  Why the Jews?

Chapter 3
  Getting a basic understanding of the "Gospel"
  Matthew 1 - Mary is pregnant
  Matthew 2 - Three astrologers
  Matthew 3 - John the baptist
  Matthew 4 - Jesus meets the devil
  Matthew 5 - Sermon on the mount
  Matthew 6 - The sermon continues
  Matthew 7 - Jesus finishes the sermon
  Matthew 8 - His first healing
  Matthew 9 - He eats on a fast day
  Matthew 10 - Don't charge for services
  Matthew 11 - Not enough respect
  Matthew 12 - Violating Shabbos
  Matthew 13 - His first parables
  Matthew 14 - Healing 5,000
  Matthew 15 - Gentiles and Pharisees
  Matthew 16 - Son of G-d
  Matthew 17 - Jesus meets Moses
  Matthew 18 - Gather in Jesus' name
  Matthew 19 - Divorce problems
  Matthew 20 - Predicts his own death
  Matthew 21 - Making a spectacle
  Matthew 22 - Messiah not from David
  Matthew 23 - No respect for the Orthodox
  Matthew 24 - False teachers
  Matthew 25 - The second coming
  Matthew 26 - Jesus gets arrested
  Matthew 27 - Pontius Pilate
  Matthew 28 - The resurrection

Chapter 4
  Recognizing the "Gospels" as un-Jewish
  The real bad guys
  Those evil Orthodox Jews
  The real Pharisees
  The idea of mitzvos
  Keepers of Torah education
  So what is the Jewish way?
  The anti-Jewish propaganda
  Pontius Pilate
  When a Jew turns against Jews
  Who killed Jesus?
  More fiery comments
  Conclusion

Chapter 5
  Recognizing misquoted scripture
  Prophecy #1: Born of a virgin
  Prophecy #2: Born in Bethlehem
  Prophecy #3: Escape to Egypt
  Prophecy #4: Killing of baby boys
  Prophecy #5: Moving to Nazereth
  Prophecy #6: A prophet announces a Christ...
  Prophecy #7: The Christ leaves Nazereth...
  Prophecy #8: The Christ personally heals the sick
  Prophecy #9: The Christ will hide from the Orthodox Jews
  Prophecy #10: The Christ will speak in parables
  Prophecy #11: The Christ will arrive, riding on an ass
  Prophecy #12: The Christ will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
  Other misquotes outside of "Matthew"
  Isaiah 53
  Psalm 16:11; Psalm 68:18-19 ; Psalm 110:1
  Psalm 41:9-10
  Psalm 22:17; Zechariah 12:10
  Exodus 12:46
  Psalm 69:22
  Psalm 22:19
  Psalm Psalm 16:10
  In conclusion

Chapter 6
  Dismissing non-Jewish mythology
  Impregnated by The Creator
  Salvation Not Included
  King Herod, Dead Or Alive?
  The Unknown Baby Killer
  There Were How Many High Priests?
  Starry Eyed Wise Men
  Merry Christmas
  And Then There Were Three
  It Doesn't Matter Anyway
  A Trial That Wasn't Jewish
  A Human Sacrifice as Jewish?
  Resurrection problems
  Resurrection Problem #1: The women and the tomb
  Resurrection Problem #2: The meeting with the disciples
  Resurrection Problem #3: The missing soul of the thief
  Well, something significant must have happened!
  The aftermath of the Resurrection
  The Torah has been superseded?
  But does it really matter anyway?

Chapter 7
  Avoiding Jesus as a teacher, leader, or deity
  Was Jesus a Faith Healer?
  Was Jesus a Torah Scholar?
  Was Jesus a Prophet?
  Was Jesus a Mystic?
  Was his name even Jesus?
  Pliny the Younger
  Josephus
  Did he claim to be the son of G-d?
  What is the son of man?
  The son of man becomes a super man?
  "Son of Man" becomes "Son of G-d"
  "Was Jesus truly righteous?

Conclusion - Afterword

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