Was Jesus a Jew?

Answer

It would seem that the question of Jesus’ ethnicity would be beyond controversy. Of course, Jesus was a Jew—right? The biblical record confirms that Jesus was indeed a Jew. However, this does not prevent disagreements and objections from some individuals. Let’s explore what the Bible has to say.

In Jesus’ time, a person was considered Jewish if they 1) were born to a Jewish mother or 2) had formally converted to Judaism. Those of Jewish descent traced their lineage back to the ancient Hebrews, while Jewish converts came from various ethnic backgrounds. Jesus belonged to the Jewish lineage and lived a Jewish life in the first century.

Jesus was born in Judah to a Jewish mother, raised in a Jewish household in Galilee, and taught in Jerusalem, the Jewish capital. He carried out His ministry across Israel: “He came to His own [the Jewish people], and His own [the Jews] did not receive Him” «He came unto his own, and his own received him not. », (John 1:11, NKJV). When speaking to a Samaritan, Jesus remarked, “You [Gentiles] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] know what we [Jews] worship, for salvation is of the Jews” «Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. », (John 4:22). Through His use of first- and second-person pronouns, Jesus clearly identified Himself as part of the Jewish community.

The biblical account presents the truth: Jesus Christ is “the son of David, the son of Abraham” «The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. », (Matthew 1:1). When the angel Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth, he spoke of Jesus having “the throne of his father David” and of His “reign over Jacob’s descendants forever” (Luke 1:32-33). In writing of Jesus’ unique priesthood, the author of Hebrews says, “It is clear that our Lord descended from Judah” «For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. », (Hebrews 7:14). Judah was a son of Jacob, and it’s from his name that we get the word Jew. Mary’s genealogy, in Luke chapter 3, shows that the mother of Jesus was a direct descendant of King David, giving Jesus the legal right to the Jewish throne and establishing without a doubt that Jesus was a Jew by descent.

The biblical record also presents Jesus as living a Jewish lifestyle and keeping the Jewish law. He was reared in a Jewish home, and Jesus’ parents were careful to do all that the law required of them «And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. », (Luke 2:39). In His ministry, Jesus often taught in synagogues (Matthew 13:54;Luke 6:6;John 18:20), and even in the temple «And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. », (Luke 21:37). In His teaching, Jesus pointed to the Law and the Prophets as authoritative (Matthew 5:17;Matthew12:5; Mark 10:19), He taught others to keep the law (Matthew 23:1-3), and He Himself observed the commandments. Jesus identified with the religion of the Jews and was considered a rabbi (John 1:38; John 6:25), although He strongly rejected the Pharisaical reinterpretation of that religion.

As a Jew, Jesus observed Passover “And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,” (John 2:13), the Feast of Tabernacles “Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand,” (John 7:2,10) “But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.” (John 7:2,10), and Hanukkah, “And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter.” (John 10:22). Jesus was called the King of the Jews “And Pilate asked him, ‘Art thou the King of the Jews?’ And he answering said unto him, ‘Thou sayest it.'” (Mark 15:2).

The Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament was a Jewish savior, one chosen by God for a special purpose. The Messiah was to serve God by redeeming Israel and then ruling from Zion, bringing peace, righteousness, and security to Israel (see Isaiah 9:6—7; 32:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the Son of David sent to the Jews, and in His earthly ministry He focused on “the lost.”

Sheep of Israel” «But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. », (Matthew 15:24). However, through His death and resurrection, Jesus secured salvation for all who would trust in Him, regardless of their nationality or background. The Jewish Messiah became the worldwide Savior (Ephesians 2:11-22).