15 Things All Christians Should Know about Judaism

Writer

Updated July 31, 2023

God has worked through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for thousands of years. Today, this people group takes their names from the fourth son of Jacob - Judah - the Jewish people. Their faith in the one true God has taken its name from Judah as well, Judaism.

Around 2,000 years ago, a group of people believed that a Rabbi named Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in the Scriptures of the Jews about a Messiah. In Jerusalem, after the crucifixion of Jesus, some claimed He was resurrected, and some others rejected this notion. This division led to the separation of Christians and Jews, leading to two different, but related faiths.

There have been times of tension and dislike between the two faiths and times of cooperation. Despite the difference and the tumultuous history between the two religious practices, it is important for Christians to understand Judaism. It is the predecessor to their own faith, and gives great understanding and insight into Jesus’ status as the Messiah, as well as the condition of mankind.

Here are 15 things Christians should know about Judaism:

1. Commandments

Without a temple in Jerusalem, it is not possible for practitioners of Judaism to conduct the sacrificial system as outlined in the Torah, so they pray and give a financial sacrifice of charity called tzedakah. They will also volunteer, care for members of their community, and obey the other mitzvahs - rituals commanded by God.

2. The Messiah

Jews reject the idea that Jesus is the Messiah. The distinction between Judaism and Christianity is not that the Jewish people were responsible for the Crucifixion of Jesus, but that after His resurrection they rejected Him as the Messiah.

During the history of Christianity, there were moments where the Church would use the role the nation of Israel played in the Crucifixion to justify poor treatment of the Jewish people. However, the Bible makes it clear through Rome’s involvement that all people bear responsibility of the death of Jesus due to their sin.

Importantly, there are many Jewish traditions and practices that point toward the Messiah, which believers should not replicate because they have been fulfilled in Christ. Practitioners of Judaism around the world continue to look for the Messiah.

3. Feasts

The feasts of the Levitical Law all point to the Messiah and were, or will be fulfilled by, Jesus Christ.

An important part of the Jewish faith instituted by God in the Levitical Law is the celebration of six feasts throughout the year, though depending on how it is broken out, it could be seven. The word feasts in Hebrew - moadium - means appointed times. There are four that take place in the spring, and three in the fall.

Spring Feasts

These spring feasts were fulfilled during the first coming of Christ.

Passover: Instituted in Egypt by God, the first Passover was during the life of Moses. The final plague on Egypt was the death of the firstborn child of every house. To be exempt from this plague, God had the obedient kill a spotless lamb as a sacrifice, and spread its blood over the door posts of each home (Exodus 12).

This event and feast point to the Messiah and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Death is the natural consequence of sin, and for sin to be forgiven, a sacrifice must be made, one of innocent blood, symbolized by the lamb. Just like those who put the blood of the lamb on their doors were spared from death visiting their home, people who put their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ will have eternal life because their sins are paid for and forgiven.

Unleavened Bread: Within the week of Passover is the feast of Unleavened Bread. This simple feast involves eating a small meal, and looked toward the burial of Christ and His time in the tomb.

First Fruits: The Feast of First Fruits pointed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first and best of the harvest and a male lamb are brought before the Lord, placing faith that God will bring more harvest. When Jesus went into the tomb, it was with the anticipation that He would be resurrected. As Paul said, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Pentecost: The word Pentecost is derived from the Greek word Pentēkostē, Πεντηκοστή, which stands for fiftieth. It is also called the Feast of Weeks, and is celebrated fifty days after the Passover, instituted in the Levitical Law (Leviticus 23:15-22). During this feast, there is a larger grain offering, plus lambs, a bull, and two rams. There is also a sin offering. This feast looked toward the arrival of the Holy Spirit after the Ascencion of Jesus Christ, which occurred during this feast, and the event bears its name.

Fall Feasts

These fall feasts are prophesied to be fulfilled during the second coming of Christ.

The Feast of Trumpets: This feast is a day of rest, announced with trumpets. Food offerings are made to the Lord. This feast is brief and described in Leviticus as solemn. It is believed this feast points to the rapture which will happen with trumpets (Revelation 4:1-6).

The Day of Atonement: Also known as Yom Kippur. Every year the Jews atone for their sins with sacrifices and prayer. It foreshadows the second coming of Christ to earth, which will be a grievous day for those who have rebelled against God. It is also when it is prophesied Israel will finally receive Him as their Messiah.

The Feast of Tabernacles: Sometimes translated as the Feast of Booths, this final feast looks toward the Millennium Reign and eternity in heaven. It is a weeklong festival where food offerings are made to the Lord on the eighth day of the festival. It looks toward the time when God will once again “tabernacle” with His people by being in their presence in right fellowship.

These feasts are observed by practicing Jews to this day as part of how they pursue a relationship with God.

4. Resurrection

Some sects of Judaism, both contemporaneously and historically, believe in the resurrection of the dead and some do not. In the Bible, many of the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Today, many Jews, but not all, believe the soul goes to be one with YWH, while others have a view of the afterlife more in alignment with Christianity.

5. Language

Yiddish, a language that has come to be associated with Judaism in America, is distinct from Hebrew, and someone speaking Yiddish does not indicate if they are practitioners of the Jewish faith.

6. Matrilineal Line

To be considered ethnically Jewish, one’s mother has to be ethnically Jewish, regardless of one’s religious beliefs. Anyone can convert to Judaism if they accept the Torah, go to a rabbinical court, and undergo certain rituals including have a mitzvah, immersion in a mikvah (a pool of water), and circumcision if the convert is male.

7. The Temple

There is currently not a Holy Temple, but there is a movement in Israel to rebuild it.

8. Synagogue

Synagogues have existed for millennia as places of prayer and learning for practitioners of the Jewish faith.

9. End Times

The Jews believe the coming Messiah will rule and reign over a time of peace on earth, much like the Millenium Reign prophesied in Revelation, though it will look different. Some Jews believe this era is Messiah, and that it is not necessarily a person.

10. Holidays

Chanukah (also spelled Hannukah) was not initially an important holiday in the Jewish calendar, and many religious Jews still do not consider it as important as days like Yom Kippur.

11. The Trinity

Judaism rejects God’s Triune nature.

12. Hell

In contemporary Judaism, they reject the belief in hell as an eternal place of torment and judgment.

13. The Sabbath Day

Shabbat, the Jewish Holy Day, begins on Friday at sunset and continues until nightfall on Saturday. It is their day dedicated to God, just like Sunday for Christians.

14. The Bible

The Hebrew Bible is also called the Tanakh, which is an acronym. It contains:

-The Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Also called the Five Books of Moses. It is represented in the name Tanakh by the letter ת.

-The Nevi’im: Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, John. Also called the Prophets. It is represented in the name Tanakh by the letter נ.

-The Ketuvim: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles. It is represented in the word Tanahk by the letter ך

15. Tribes

In the Old Testament, God instituted hereditary priesthoods passed through the lines of Aaron in the tribe of Levi. Today, those genealogies are lost and Rabbis, Cantors, Scribes, and Mohels do not have to come from a specific tribe.

Does God Still Care for the Jewish People Today?

Just because many people of Jewish descent have rejected Jesus, that does not mean God has turned His back on them. One of the beautiful prophecies in Revelation is that many Jews will turn to their true Messiah, and that Christ will rule and reign during the millennium kingdom from Jerusalem, taking His rightful place on the throne of David.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans that God set aside a time for the Gentiles to come to God, but that Israel would be saved:

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob’ and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins’ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may nowreceive mercy” (Romans 11:25-32).

In other words, when Jesus returns, Israel will return to God. They are still God’s elect - His chosen people. His promises are forever, and there are still promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David that have yet to come to fruition.

Understanding Judaism can help Christians deepen their understanding of their own faith and how God’s sovereignty interacts with man’s free will, as well as help them share the Gospel with their Jewish friends.

Related:

Sources

Davis, Daniel. Understanding Judaism. eBook: Open Road, 2022.

Davis, Erin. 7 Feasts Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2020.

Fedrow, Rabbi Stuart. Judaism and Christianity: A Contrast. Bloomington: iUniverse, Inc., 2012.

Walvoord, John. The Millenial Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959.

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.