Trude
Weiss-Rosmarin addresses this question brilliantly in
her seminal book Judaism and Christianity: the Differences
(Jonathan David, 1943). She maintains that
Jesus definitely does not qualify as a true prophet
for many reasons, among them the following:
1.
Jewish prophets are not the "mouthpiece of G-d."
True prophets of Israel never taught in their own name,
they always taught in the name of G-d. Jesus, however,
taught on his own authority, frequently in opposition
to the rabbinic teachings of the time. Maimonides (the
Rambam, the great Jewish philosopher, codifier and physician,
1135-1204) summarizes this requirement by saying "a
prophet must not add or diminish any of the Torah commandments."
2.
Jesus arrogated for himself the power of forgiving sins
which Judaism reserves for G-d alone.
3.
Jesus declares miracles on his own authority, declaring
them to be a sign of his own power and his own strength.
The gospels record that Jesus once turned five loaves
of bread and two fish into food sufficient for 5,000
men and what was left over filled twelve baskets (Luke
9:13-17). When performing this miracle, Jesus made no
reference whatsoever to G-d, using it simply as a proof
of his own powers.
4.
Jesus performed miracles to make the people believe
in him. Traditional Jewish prophets perform miracles
to strengthen the people's belief in G-d.
5.
Jesus' teachings do not measure up to the prophetic
standards. He dismissed many important points of Jewish
law, once again violating the prohibition of adding
or diminishing from the Torah.
6.
While Judaism is essentially moderate and accepting,
Jesus was a profound ascetic. Consequently, his teachings
were principally concerned with the World to Come. This
is powerfully indicated by Jesus's hostile attitude
toward marriage and family.
7.
Judaism encourages the pious to assume prominent places
in society, as good sons, husbands, brothers and neighbors.
Jesus demanded of his followers to hate their nearest
and dearest. So they may be better and more loyal disciples.
8.
Jesus taught that if a person is assaulted on his right
cheek, he should turn the other, too. Judaism teaches
that if someone comes to kill you, you may preempt and
kill the would-be murderer. Jewish law does not command
that one love his adversary, for this would be unnatural.
It does however command to refrain from exacting vengeance
upon an enemy and to assist the enemy in an emergency,
for this is to be expected of an ethical human being.
9.
The bible regards all men as brothers because of their
common Father in Heaven. The messages of the Hebrew
prophets were universal, messages that G-d intended
for all of humankind, not merely the Jews. Jesus emphasizes
that he was sent only to the "lost sheep of the
house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24).
10.
Although Jesus pledged that not one dot of an "i"
or crossing of a "t" should be dropped from
the law, he himself disregarded and violated a number
of important laws, including instructing his disciples
to collect wheat on Shabbat because they were hungry.
11.
While Jewish law recommends divorce as a means of terminating
an unhappy and untenable marriage, Jesus, in clear opposition
to the Bible and the Talmud prohibited divorce, except
in the instance of adultery.
12. Contrary to hallowed Jewish tradition, Jesus decries
the religious value of communal prayer and idealizes
solitary devotion.
We
see from this analysis that the question of identifying
a true prophet is not merely a theoretical construct.
Even in the 21st century, this question has vital implications
for our people. So it is with many of the precepts of
the Torah that seem to be purely hypothetical and without
any practical implications. Perhaps we should learn
from parashat Re'eh and the issue of identifying a true
prophet, that none of the Torah principles should be
treated lightly.
May
you be blessed.
