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“Not only was Jesus a rabbi, he was a deeply learned, well-versed student of Jewish holy texts. Almost all his teachings derive directly from the Torah. The lessons he articulated line up squarely with Jewish morality and statements of rabbis found in the Talmud. Some of Jesus’ most famous and recognizable teachings are taken directly from earlier Jewish sources… As a devout rabbi trained in the Torah, Jesus founded his sermons, parables, and aphorisms upon the same Jewish sayings and traditions that governed every aspect of his life... None but a well-trained Pharisaic rabbi would draw so reliably and so heavily on the knowledge of his rabbinic predecessors in such a textbook way. And we can only conclude that Jesus was exactly that – a classically trained rabbinic scholar. What is the most important message to take away from this chapter? Not only how much of Jesus’ teaching was rooted in Pharisaic Judaism and Torah, but how similar the rabbis and Jesus sound. In many ways, Jesus and the rabbis shared both purpose and vision. Jesus was a trained rabbi, who taught like a rabbi, spoke like a rabbi, and thought like a rabbi.“
-Orthodox Rabbi, Shmuley Boteach, Kosher JesusChapter 1
“Moses received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:1
“Then Yeshua said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Law of Moses (Greek and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses). So practice and obey whatever they tell you…”
-Mattai 23:1-3a
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,“
-Mattai 28:19a
“He used to say: do not be like servants who serve the master in the expectation of receiving a reward, but be like servants who serve the master without the expectation of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:3
“Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
-Luke 17:9-10
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of G-d.”
-Shaul, 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Yose ben Yoezer (a man) of Zeredah and Yose ben Yohanan (a man) of Jerusalem received [the oral tradition] from them [i.e. Shimon the Righteous and Antigonus]. Yose ben Yoezer used to say: let thy house be a house of meeting for the Sages and sit in the very dust of their feet, and drink in their words with thirst.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:4
“Now it happened as they went that he entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Yeshua’s feet and heard his word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Yeshua answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
-Luke 10:38-42
“Yose ben Yochanan (a man) of Jerusalem used to say: Let thy house be wide open, and let the poor be members of thy household.”
-Ethics 1:5
“Then he [Yeshua] also said to him who invited him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.””
-Luke 14:12-14
“Joshua ben Perahiah used to say: appoint for thyself a teacher, and acquire for thyself a companion and judge all men with the scale weighted in his favor.“
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:6
“For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
-Mattai 7:2
“Nittai the Arbelite used to say: keep a distance from an evil neighbor, do not become attached to the wicked, and do not abandon faith in [divine] retribution.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:7
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
-Shaul, 2 Corinthians 6:14
“Shemaiah and Abtalion received [the oral tradition] from them. Shemaiah used to say: love work, hate acting the superior, and do not attempt to draw near to the ruling authority.“
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:10
“And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Yeshua called them to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”
-Mattai 20:24-26
“Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them close to the Torah.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:12
“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
-Shaul, Romans 14:19
“to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
-Shaul to Titus 3:2
“He [also] used to say: one who makes his name great causes his name to be destroyed;”
-Ethics 1:13
“ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””
-Luke 14:11
“Shammai used to say: make your [study of the] Torah a fixed practice; speak little, but do much; and receive all men with a pleasant countenance.”
-Ethics 1:15
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
-Mattai 5:44-48
“Rabban Gamaliel used to say: appoint for thyself a teacher, avoid doubt, and do not make a habit of tithing by guesswork.”
-Ethics 1:16
“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before G-d. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
-Romans 14:22-23
“Shimon, his son, used to say: all my days I grew up among the sages, and I have found nothing better for a person than silence. Study is not the most important thing, but actions; whoever indulges in too many words brings about sin.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 1:17
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of G-d.”
-Ya’akov 1:19-20
Chapter 2
“Rabbi said: which is the straight path that a man should choose for himself? One which is an honor to the person adopting it, and [on account of which] honor [accrues] to him from others. And be careful with a light commandment as with a grave one, for you did know not the reward for the fulfillment of the commandments…”
-Ethics 2:1
“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
-Mattai 5:19
“Rabban Gamaliel the son of Rabbi Judah Hanasi said: excellent is the study of the Torah when combined with a worldly occupation, for toil in them both keeps sin out of one’s mind; But [study of the] Torah which is not combined with a worldly occupation, in the end comes to be neglected and becomes the cause of sin.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:2
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.”
-Shaul, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
“Hillel said: do not separate yourself from the community,”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:4
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
-Shaul, Hebrews 10:24-26
“Moreover he [Hillel] saw a skull floating on the face of the water. He said to it: because you drowned others, they drowned you. And in the end, they that drowned you will be drowned.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:6
“But Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”
-Mattai 26:52
“He was accustomed to say: The more flesh, the more worms. The more possessions, the more worry. The more wives, the more witchcraft. The more maidservants, the more lewdness. The more man-servants, the more theft. The more Torah, the more life. The more sitting [and studying], the more wisdom. The more counsel, the more understanding. The more charity, the more peace…”
-Ethics 2:7
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
-Mattai 6:19-21
“He [Rabban Yohanan] said unto them: go forth and observe which is the right way to which a man should cleave? Rabbi Eliezer said, a good eye; Rabbi Joshua said, a good companion; Rabbi Yose said, a good neighbor; Rabbi Shimon said, foresight. Rabbi Elazar said, a good heart. He [Rabban Yohanan] said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included. He [Rabban Yohanan] said unto them: go forth and observe which is the evil way which a man should shun? Rabbi Eliezer said, an evil eye; Rabbi Joshua said, an evil companion; Rabbi Yose said, an evil neighbor; Rabbi Shimon said, one who borrows and does not repay for he that borrows from man is as one who borrows from God, blessed be He, as it is said, “the wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous deal graciously and give” (Psalms 37:21). Rabbi Elazar said, an evil heart. He [Rabban Yohanan] said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:9
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
-Luke 6:45
“Rabbi Shimon said: Be careful with the reading of Shema and the prayer, And when you pray, do not make your prayer something automatic, but a plea for compassion before God, for it is said: “for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, and renouncing punishment” (Joel 2:13);”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:13
“Yeshua answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear (Shema), O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one. And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.””
-Mark 12:29-30
“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
-Mattai 6:7-8
“Rabbi Tarfon said: the day is short, and the work is plentiful, and the laborers are indolent, and the reward is great, and the master of the house is insistent.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 2:15
“Then he said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””
-Luke 10:2
“Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”
-Yochanan 4:35-36
Chapter 3
“Rabbi Hanina, the vice-high priest said: pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive.“
-Ethics of the Fathers 3:2
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of G-d our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
-Shaul, 1 Timothy 2:1-4
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from G-d, and the authorities that exist are appointed by G-d. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of G-d, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is G-d’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is G-d’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are G-d’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due,customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”
-Shaul, Romans 13:1-7
“if two sit together and there are words of Torah [spoken] between them, then the Shekhinah abides among them, as it is said: “then they that feared the Lord spoke one with another; and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16).”
-Ethics of the Fathers 3:2
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
-Mattai 18:19
“Rabbi Elazar, man of Bartuta, says: Give Him from what is His, for you and yours are His, and thus with David it says, “For all comes from You, and from Your hand we have given to You” (I Chronicles 29:14). Rabbi Jacob said: if one is studying while walking on the road and interrupts his study and says, “how fine is this tree!” [or] “how fine is this newly ploughed field!” scripture accounts it to him as if he was mortally guilty.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 3:7
“When they had come, they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and court no man’s favor; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of G-d in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius that I may see it.” So they brought it. And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Yeshua answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to G-d the things that are G-d’s.” And they marveled at him.”
-Mark 12:14-17
“But Yeshua said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of G-d.””
-Luke 9:62
״He used to say: one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, so that when the wind comes, it uproots it and overturns it, as it is said, “He shall be like a bush in the desert, which does not sense the coming of good. It is set in the scorched places of the wilderness, in a barren land without inhabitant” (Jeremiah 17:6). But one whose deeds exceed his wisdom, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are few but roots are many, so that even if all the winds in the world come and blow upon it, they cannot move it out of its place, as it is said, “He shall be like a tree planted by waters, sending forth its roots by a stream. It does not sense the coming of heat, its leaves are ever fresh. It has no care in a year of drought; it does not cease to yield fruit” (ibid, 17:8).״
-Ethics of the Fathers 3:17
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””
-Mattai 7:24-26
Chapter 4
“Rabbi Yochanan ben Beroka says: Anyone who desecrates the Name of Heaven secretly, they punish him publicly.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:4b
“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
-Mattai 6:3-4
“Rabbi Yishmael, his son, says: One who withholds himself from judging – removes from himself enmity, theft, and the false oath.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:7a
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
-Luke 6:37
“He would say: Do not judge alone, for there is no lone judge aside from One [G-d].”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:8a
“I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me… And yet if I do judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.”
-Yochanan 5:30, 8:16
“Rabbi Meir says: Minimize business and engage in Torah. Be humble of spirit before everyone.“
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:10a
“to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
-Shaul to Titus 3:2
“Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua says: Let the honor of your student be dear to you as your own, and the honor of your fellow like the reverence of your teacher, and the reverence of your teacher like the reverence of Heaven.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:12
“Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but Him who sent me.”
-Mark 9:37
“Rabbi Yaakov says: This world is like a hallway before the world to come. Fix yourself in the hallway so you may enter the drawing room.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:16
““But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.””
-Mattai 22:11-14
“He would say: One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than all the time in the world to come.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:17
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine upright persons who need no repentance.”
-Luke 15:7
“Shmuel the Younger says: (Proverbs 24:17-18) “When your enemy falls, do not be happy, and when he stumbles, let your heart not rejoice. Lest G-d see and it be bad in His eyes and He turn from him [the enemy] His anger.””
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:19
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the L-rd. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
-Shaul, Romans 12:19-21
“Elisha ben Abuya says: One who learns as a child is compared to what? To ink written on new parchment. And one who learns as an elder is compared to what? To ink written on scraped parchment. Rabbi Yose bar Yehuda, man of Kfar HaBavli, says: One who learns from young ones is compared to what? To one who eats unripe grapes and drinks wine from its press. And one who learns from elders is compared to what? To one who eats ripe grapes and drinks aged wine. Rebbi says: Do not look at the jug but rather at what is in it. For there are new jugs full of old, and old that do not have even new within them.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:20
“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
-Mattai 18:4
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
-Yochanan 7:24
“… Hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence… first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
-Mattai 23:25a, 26a
“Then he spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ””
-Luke 5:36-39
“Rabbi Elazar HaKappar says: Envy, lust and honor remove a person from the world.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:21
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there… Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.”
-Ya’akov 3:16, 4:1-2
“He would say: Those that are born will die, and those that are dead will be revived, and the living will be judged. [It is necessary] to know, to make known, and to become conscious that He is God, He is the Maker, He is the Creator, He is the Understander, He is the Judge, He is the Witness, He is the Litigant, and He is destined to judge. Blessed be He, who has before Him no wrong, no forgetfulness, no respect of persons, no taking of bribes, for all is His. And know that everything is according to the reckoning. And do not let your [evil] impulse assure you that the netherworld is a place of refuge for you; because against your will you were created, and against your will you were born, and against your will you live, and against your will you die, and against your will you are destined to give account and reckoning before the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.”
-Ethics of the Fathers 4:22
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before G-d, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.”
-Yochanan, Revelation 20:11-13
Eye To Zion 