Who are the Natsarim?

Answer

The Natsarim (Hebrew for “Nazarenes”) are a religious sect that blends biblical truth with the Torah, the Jewish festivals, and the philosophies of men. They are part of the Hebrew Roots movement. The Natsarim assert to follow the Jesus portrayed in the four gospels, and they address Him as Yeshua HaMashiach (“Jesus the Messiah”).

The Natsarim derive the origin of their name from the Hebrew term for “watchmen” or (by altering vowels) “branches,” i.e., the branches of the True Vine in John 15:5. They maintain to be the initial followers of Jesus, rejected by the Jewish leaders of the first century and by the early church. The Natsarim perceive themselves as having two divine purposes, which will be fully realized just before the second coming of Christ.

The Natsarim’s primary purpose is to safeguard the name Yeshua HaMashiach. They teach that salvation is exclusively found in one name «Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. », (Acts 4:12), and that name is Yeshua HaMashiach— not Jesus. The Messiah must be invoked as Yeshua HaMashiach. To invoke any other name (such as Jesus) is to engage in a false religion.

The Natsarim perceive their second purpose as preserving the Torah, the five books of Moses in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The Natsarim observe the Sabbath and the other commandments of the Mosaic Law and assert to be the watchmen, the custodians of righteousness. They argue that if Yeshua HaMashiach obeyed the law, then His followers should as well.

As the “original” disciples of Christ, the Natsarim see themselves as the genuine followers of Yeshua HaMashiach. All others who profess the name of Christ are considered impostors. The various denominations of Christianity are tainted with paganism; they live in deliberate sin.According to the Nazarenes, individuals will face condemnation unless they repent and follow The Way of the Nazarenes (see Acts 9:2). They decline to identify as “Christians,” asserting that the term Christian connotes “cretin.”

In essence, the Nazarenes are a self-proclaimed non-Christian faction who have faith in Jesus but not in accordance with the Christian perspective. They emphasize the use of Hebrew terms and adherence to the law, considering themselves the exclusive “watchmen” of righteousness. While discussing their faith, the Nazarenes may resemble Christians, but their focus is on the Torah and Jewish customs. They overlook that “Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes” «For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. », (Romans 10:4), and that genuine Christians possess a new heart and spirit, empowered to obey the law of Christ «Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. », (Galatians 6:2) and uphold the two greatest commandments, which encapsulate the entire law (Matthew 22:36-40).