Search Members

[LU]

@DesireTruth

Starting with this: “What does the Tanakh actually say about the Messiah?”

Let’s use only what the Tanakh itself says, not later rabbinic expectations, not Christian tradition, and not assumptions imported from either side.

If we are going to evaluate whether Jesus fulfills the Tanakh, we must first identify what the Tanakh actually requires.

So here is what the Tanakh itself says about the Messiah, without adding later traditions.

1. The Messiah is a descendant of David.
This comes from the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7 and is repeated in Psalm 89 and Jeremiah 23. The Messiah must come from David’s line. That is the clearest and most consistent requirement.

2. The Messiah is a king who rules with justice and righteousness.
This is found in Isaiah 9, Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 23, and Psalm 72. The Messiah is a Davidic king who rules with righteousness, defends the poor, and brings justice.

3. The Messiah is empowered by the Spirit of the Lord.
Isaiah 11 says the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. This is a defining characteristic.

4. The Messiah brings salvation, deliverance, and restoration.
This includes the restoration of Israel, the gathering of the exiles, and the establishment of peace. Isaiah 11, Isaiah 49, Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, and Ezekiel 37 all speak of this.

5. The Messiah suffers, is rejected, and is vindicated.
Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and Zechariah 12 all describe a righteous figure who suffers, is pierced or rejected, and is later vindicated by God. Whether you interpret these passages as messianic or not, they are part of the Tanakh’s picture of God’s chosen servant.

6. The Messiah is exalted by God.
Psalm 110 describes a figure seated at God’s right hand. Daniel 7 describes one like a son of man who comes with the clouds of heaven and receives authority, glory, and a kingdom from God. These are exaltation passages.

7. The Messiah participates in God’s work.
Isaiah 11, Isaiah 42, Isaiah 49, and Isaiah 53 all describe the servant or the Davidic figure as carrying out God’s mission on earth. Daniel 7 describes the son of man receiving authority from God. Psalm 2 describes the king ruling the nations with God’s authority.

8. The Messiah brings light to the nations.
Isaiah 42 and Isaiah 49 describe God’s servant as a light to the nations and as one who brings God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.

9. The Messiah inaugurates a new covenant.
Jeremiah 31 describes a new covenant that God will make with His people. This is part of the messianic age.

10. The Messiah’s reign is everlasting.
Psalm 72, Psalm 89, Isaiah 9, and Daniel 7 all describe the reign of God’s chosen king as everlasting.

These are the core Tanakh-based expectations. They come from the text itself, not later rabbinic additions.

Now here is the important part:
Your list of objections assumes that the Messiah must do everything at once, immediately, physically, and politically. But the Tanakh never says the Messiah must accomplish all of these things in one moment. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot suffer. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot be rejected. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot be exalted after suffering. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot appear, be rejected, and later be vindicated. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot participate in God’s work in a unique way. The Tanakh never says the Messiah cannot be given authority by God in a heavenly sense before the earthly restoration.

Those are later assumptions, not Tanakh statements.

If you want to continue honestly, then the next step is simple:
Take each of the ten Tanakh-based expectations above and examine whether Jesus fulfills them. If you want, we can go through them one by one, using only the Tanakh as the standard.

If you prefer, you can list the passages you believe define the Messiah, and we will examine each one in context to determine whether it is actually a messianic requirement according to the Tanakh itself.

[LU]

@Keith

I can tell that I was not clear enough with my post. I want to you look at Heb 1:10-14 and Psalm 102:25-28.

In Hebrews 1:10-12 we see that the Father is speaking about the Son when the Father says:

Hebrews 1:10 And:

“In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

In Psalm 102 we read this:

25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on. 27But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.

Do you see that the Father is quoting Psalm 102 in Hebrews 1:10-12? Can you tell me who is the “You” in Hebrews 1:10 and who is the “You” in Psalm 102:25?

 

[LU]

This is Lightenup from a new account. I’m having trouble with the reset password screen and also sending you a DM. I need to reset my password to my original account. Please advise.

Thanks, LU

[Author]

Posts