Matthew, Chapters 3b & 4

Rabbi Reads the Christian Book of Matthew

This lesson again attempts to distinguish the myth of the Jesus of Christianity from the actual Yeshu of history.The episodes in these chapters indicate the Yeshu was clandestinely building a relationship with certain Essenic organizations, who, as is known, had a reputation for separatism and violence.

John “baptizes” Yeshu. Yeshu is thus showing his affiliation with John's separatist movement. He then goes out into the desert practicing a vision quest meditative ritual, the likes of which are still practiced to this day in certain mystical circles. This was clearly his initiation into the Essenic order, most likely, the one associated with John. This group was known in Maccabean times as the Hasidim, and they were known as zealots. It was this same group that assisted Judah Macabee in the Hanuka war, and now Yeshu comes to align with them, hoping that they will align with him.

Yeshu then builds his following, and practices traditional Essenic medicinal cures.From our Torah point of view, we see this this segment of the Yeshu story the beginnings of a political party (the Kingdom of Heaven), that would soon vie for political power here on Earth.Yeshu was not trying to save man from their sins, but rather save Israel from the oppression of the Romans. This message comes through loud and clear when the text is read from a Torah point of view.