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Our Opponents Say # 4

By Brian Reed | Comments (2) | Posted on July 9, 2008

One of the tenets of the Messianic Age is that there will be universal peace. Because of this, opponents of the Gospel often say that Yeshua cannot be the promised Messiah because he did not bring peace. They even say, "Look, he said it himself that he did not come to bring peace but a sword and to bring division between members of a household." Based upon their use of Matthew 10:34-36, it seems as if this is the case. But, what was the common understanding during the Second Temple era of the beginning of the Messianic era? Was there an expectation of immediate universal peace with the advent of the Messiah?

First we must realize that the Master is quoting from the Scriptures. In Micah 7:6 it says, "for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house."

Also, to answer our opponents, consider the following text from the Talmud:

In the footsteps of the Messiah insolence will increase and honour dwindle; the vine will yield its fruit [abundantly] but wine will be dear; the government will turn to heresy and there will be none [to offer them] reproof; the meeting-place [of scholars] will be used for immorality; Galilee will be destroyed, Gablan desolated, and the dwellers on the frontier will go about [begging] from place to place without anyone to take pity on them; the wisdom of the learned will degenerate, fearers of sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put old men to shame, the old will stand up in the presence of the young, a son will revile his father, a daughter will rise against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his household; the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, a son will not feel ashamed before his father. (b.Sotah 49b, Soncino edition)

A third text which shows that the above passage in Micah was understood as pertaining to the days of Roman occupation in the Second Temple is found in the Targum to Micah 7:6-9:

For in that time son shall spurn father, a daughter shall quarrel with her mother, a daughter-in-law shall treat her mother-in-law with contempt; a man's household shall be his enemies. But I will rejoice in the Memra [the Word] of the Lord, I will exult in the God who accomplishes my salvation; my God will hear my prayer. Do not rejoice over me, O Rome my enemy; though I have fallen, I will rise, though I have sat as if in darkness, the Lord will shine upon me. Jerusalem said, 'I have received a curse from the Lord because I have sinned before him, until he judges my case and avenges my humiliation. Then he will bring me out to the light and I will see his justice.

According to the Targum, Jerusalem was being judged for her sins that occurred during the Second Temple, primarily the sin of baseless hatred (see b.Yoma 9b which equates baseless hatred to the three cardinal sins of idolatry, immorality, and shedding of blood). Rashi further explains that baseless hatred is a hatred toward someone who has not performed an action that justifies this hate. The Targum speaks of Jerusalem's consolation from her destruction by Rome as an event in the future. The perils of the Messianic Era began in during the Second Temple and will cease with the return of the Messiah. Even he himself said this: "See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:38-39).

Thus, based upon common understanding during the days of the Second Temple, the arrival of the Messiah would be one in which the world was filled with tribulation; a son would not accord honor to his father; households would be divided. Since the years following the arrival of Yeshua, and even to our current day, the world has grown increasingly more insolent and new tribulations and terrors are seemingly arriving almost daily. All of this is in preparation for the arrival of the Kingdom of God when Messiah will establish his throne in Jerusalem. Yeshua was saying that the Messianic Era had begun and that they were to not expect immediate peace but rather many trials and the like before the Kingdom was fully ushered in and universal peace the norm.

About the Author: Brian Reed is a staff writer and researcher specializing in Messianic apologetics.

Visitor Comments

Thank you, Brian. This is the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

Posted by: Neubill | July 9, 2008 8:11 PM

Thank you! I really enjoyed this article!

Posted by: Rachel | July 10, 2008 11:22 AM

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