When Ben Shapiro Got HUMBLED on Jesus

Summary

The transcript discusses the complex relationship between Judaism and Christianity, focusing on the figure of Jesus Christ. It highlights the debate surrounding Jesus' divinity, his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and the theological differences between the two faiths. The conversation touches on Jesus' teachings, his role as the Messiah, and the Jewish perspective on his life and actions. It emphasizes the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection in Christian belief, and the ongoing theological and interpretive disagreements between Jews and Christians.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The discussion revolves around the complex relationship between Judaism and Christianity, focusing on the figure of Jesus and how he is perceived differently within each faith.
• 📜 Jesus is seen by Christians as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, particularly in Isaiah 53, which is considered a pivotal point in understanding his role as the Messiah.
• 🕌 Jewish law and the teachings of Jesus are compared, with Christians arguing that Jesus elevated the teachings of the rabbis and focused on the spiritual essence of the law over legalistic adherence.
• 🚫 Jews view Jesus as a teacher who crossed a line by claiming divinity, which was seen as either a sign of being the Messiah or as blasphemy, leading to the decision to crucify him.
• 📖 The debate includes discussions on whether Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies, such as the building of the Third Temple, which some argue will occur during his second coming.
• 🧐 Jews argue that Jesus did not meet the personal qualifications to be the Messiah, as they believe he contradicted the Torah, particularly in regards to the Sabbath.
• 👤 The issue of Jesus' lineage to David is debated, with Christians pointing to genealogies through Joseph and the concept of adoption, while Jews question the biological aspect.
• 🗣️ Misinterpretations and translations of biblical verses are discussed, with Jews and Christians having differing views on the prophecies related to Jesus' virgin birth and crucifixion.
• 🙏 The underlying theological difference between Judaism and Christianity is highlighted, with Judaism not believing in the need for a personal savior and Christianity emphasizing the necessity of Jesus as the savior from sin.
• 🌍 The script concludes with a call for prayer for Jews who do not recognize Jesus as their savior, hoping for their spiritual enlightenment and communion with Jesus.

Q & A

What was the main point of contention between Ben Shapiro and Pastor John MacArthur regarding Jesus?

The main point of contention was about Jesus' understanding and fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and laws. MacArthur argued that Jesus was not just a good Jewish teacher but the Messiah, while Shapiro seemed to struggle with accepting Jesus' claim as divine.

How does the speaker describe Jesus' approach to the Old Testament laws?

The speaker describes Jesus' approach as elevating the teachings of the rabbis, focusing on the heart and soul behind the law, rather than just the practical application. Jesus emphasized the spiritual significance and the true meaning behind the laws.

What is the significance of the passage in Isaiah 53 according to the speaker?

The passage in Isaiah 53 is significant because it is seen as a direct prediction of Jesus' coming and his role as the suffering servant. It is considered a critical point in understanding Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

What is the speaker's view on the concept of sacrifices in Judaism and Christianity?

The speaker views the sacrifices in Judaism as a continuous and repetitive process that could not fully atone for sin, whereas Jesus' sacrifice is seen as the final and complete atonement for the sins of all people throughout history.

How does the speaker address the Jewish belief that Jesus did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies?

The speaker acknowledges that Jews believe Jesus did not fulfill certain prophecies, such as the building of the Third Temple, but counters by suggesting that some prophecies may be fulfilled during Jesus' second coming, and that others may have been misunderstood or mistranslated.

What is the speaker's perspective on the differences between Judaism and Christianity in terms of morality and God?

The speaker believes that there is no moral difference between Judaism and Christianity and that both religions worship the same God, the one true Creator God. The distinction lies in how each religion views and treats Jesus Christ.

Why does the speaker argue that Jesus is the 'purest Jew'?

The speaker argues that Jesus is the 'purest Jew' because he understood and elevated the law to the heart and soul, focusing on the spiritual essence of the commandments rather than just the literal observance.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea that Jesus was a product of human invention?

The speaker strongly disagrees with the idea that Jesus was a product of human invention, citing the unique and profound nature of his teachings and the testimony of people in his time as evidence of his divine nature.

What does the speaker suggest about the Jewish understanding of the Mosaic Covenant?

The speaker suggests that the Jews, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, had twisted the Mosaic Covenant into legalism, and that Jesus came to restore the true understanding and spirit of the law.

How does the speaker address the Jewish objection to Jesus' lineage and qualifications as the Messiah?

The speaker addresses this by referring to the genealogies in the gospels that trace Joseph's lineage back to David, and argues that adoption into the Davidic bloodline is sufficient. They also suggest that Jesus' virgin birth through Mary technically fulfills the requirement of being a descendant of David.

What is the speaker's view on the Jewish belief that they do not need a personal savior?

The speaker respectfully disagrees, asserting that all humans are born into a fallen state and in need of a savior. They believe that Jesus is the ultimate savior who can cover all sins and offer everlasting life.

What does the speaker suggest as the underlying issue between Jews and Christians in their understanding of Jesus?

The speaker suggests that the underlying issue is a deeper spiritual matter, where Jews are seen as having a spiritual blindness that prevents them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and savior, as mentioned in the New Testament book of Romans.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Debating Jesus's Divinity and Its Implications

This section presents a discussion between Ben Shapiro and Pastor John MacArthur, focusing on the controversial nature of Jesus's claims to divinity. It portrays Shapiro's perspective of Jesus as a significant Jewish teacher whose teachings align closely with older Jewish prophets, while questioning the uniqueness of his message. MacArthur counters by emphasizing Jesus's unparalleled claims, arguing that Jesus's assertion of being one with God and the predictions of his coming in Isaiah 53 force a decision between seeing him as the Messiah or a blasphemer. The segment highlights the clash between traditional Jewish interpretations of messianic prophecies and Christian beliefs, with MacArthur asserting Jesus's fulfillment of these prophecies and his role as a bridge between God's justice and mercy.

05:00

📜 The Final Sacrifice: Understanding Jesus's Crucifixion

This paragraph delves into the theological significance of Jesus's crucifixion from a Christian perspective, as explained by Pastor John MacArthur. It begins with the limitations of the Old Testament sacrificial system, highlighting its inability to permanently atone for sin, and contrasts this with the singular, sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. MacArthur interprets the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus's death as a divine statement of a new, open path to God, marking the end of the need for further sacrifices. The discussion extends to the resurrection as a validation of Jesus's sacrifice and explores the implications of Jesus bearing the sins of all believers. The narrative is framed within the broader context of biblical prophecy, particularly Isaiah 53, and suggests a future recognition of Jesus as the Messiah by Jewish believers.

10:00

🤝 Differences and Debates: Jesus in Judaism and Christianity

The final section explores the nuanced disagreements between Jewish and Christian interpretations of messianic prophecies and Jesus's qualifications as the Messiah. It addresses several Jewish objections to recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, such as alleged contradictions with the Torah, issues with his genealogy linking him to David, and interpretations of prophecies viewed as unfulfilled by Jesus's life and actions. Additionally, it touches on the fundamental theological divergence regarding the necessity of a personal savior, with Judaism not embracing the concept of original sin requiring salvation through Jesus. The segment emphasizes ongoing debates over scripture interpretations, the role of Jesus as a unifying figure for humanity's sins, and the importance of faith in his divinity for salvation. It concludes with a call to prayer for Jewish recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, reflecting on the New Testament's assertion of a spiritual blindness within Judaism.

Keywords

💡Messiah

The term 'Messiah' refers to a prophesied savior in Jewish and Christian tradition. In the video, it is discussed as a central figure whose coming is predicted in various Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53. The debate over whether Jesus is the Messiah or a blasphemer forms the crux of the conversation, highlighting the divide between Judaism and Christianity on this matter.

💡Blasphemy

Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt for God or sacred things, which in the context of the video, is related to Jesus' claims about his divine nature. The Jews of the time saw Jesus' statements as either fulfilling the messianic prophecies or as an act of blasphemy, leading to the decision to put him to death if he was not the Messiah.

💡Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible and the entire Hebrew Bible, containing writings that are sacred to Judaism. In the video, it is highlighted as containing prophecies that Christians believe predict Jesus' life and mission, such as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, which is central to the argument about Jesus' identity.

💡Sabbath

The Sabbath is a day of rest and religious observance in Judaism, traditionally observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The video discusses Jesus' teachings on the Sabbath, where he emphasizes the importance of the heart behind the law, challenging the Pharisees' focus on the letter of the law over its spirit.

💡Prophecy

A prophecy is a message given through an intermediary, often a religious figure, that foretells the future. In the video, prophecies from the Old Testament, particularly those in Isaiah, are discussed as having been fulfilled by Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which is a point of contention between Jews and Christians.

💡Divinity of Jesus

The divinity of Jesus refers to the Christian belief that Jesus is God incarnate, fully divine and fully human. The video touches on this concept as a point of disagreement between Jews and Christians, with Christians asserting Jesus' divinity as central to their faith, while Jews reject this claim based on their understanding of the Torah and the nature of God.

💡Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, found in the Gospel of Matthew, which includes the famous Beatitudes and teachings on love and morality. In the video, it is mentioned as an example of Jesus elevating the teachings of the rabbis and going beyond the practical application of the law to address the heart and soul of the matter.

💡Atonement

Atonement refers to the act of making amends or reconciliation for sin or wrongdoing. In the context of the video, it is discussed in relation to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and how Christians believe that Jesus' death and resurrection provided the ultimate atonement for sins, ending the need for further sacrifices.

💡Virgin Birth

The virgin birth is the Christian belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary without the involvement of a human father. In the video, it is mentioned as part of the messianic prophecies and as a point of contention between Jews and Christians, with some Jews arguing that the Hebrew text can be interpreted differently.

💡Genealogies

Genealogies are records of a person's ancestry, often used to establish lineage and fulfill messianic prophecies. In the video, the genealogies recorded in the Gospels are discussed as evidence of Jesus' descent from King David, which is important for fulfilling the messianic prophecy, but is disputed by some Jews who question the validity of adoption into the Davidic line.

💡Salvation

Salvation in a religious context refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences, often through faith in a divine savior. The video discusses salvation as the central theme of the Bible, with Jesus being the focal point of salvation for Christians, while Jews look forward to a future messianic figure who will bring about salvation in a different manner.

Highlights

The discussion revolves around the complex relationship between Judaism and Christianity, focusing on the figure of Jesus and how he is perceived differently within these two religious traditions.

Jesus is seen by some as crossing a line that distinguishes him from being just a noble Jewish teacher, leading to the view that he either is the Messiah or a blasphemer.

Pastor John MacArthur is mentioned as correcting Ben Shapiro's misunderstandings about Jesus, emphasizing the importance of the Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah 53.

The argument is made that Jesus did not contradict the Old Testament but rather elevated its teachings, focusing on the heart and soul of the law.

Jesus is described as the purest Jew, understanding the elevation of the law to the heart and soul, which is a unique interpretation of his teachings within the context of Judaism.

The claim that Jesus claimed to be God and made divine statements such as creating the universe, which sets him apart from other good teachers and prophets.

The distinction between Judaism and Christianity is said to lie in what is done with Jesus Christ, highlighting the theological divide between the two religions.

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament is discussed, with the argument that Jesus's death and resurrection fulfilled the need for further sacrifices, marking a significant shift in Christian belief.

The theological concept of Jesus bearing the sins of all believers throughout history is explored, emphasizing the Christian belief in the atonement made through his sacrifice.

The debate over the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, particularly regarding the construction of the Third Temple of Israel, is highlighted as a point of contention between Jews and Christians.

The discussion addresses the Jewish belief that Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications to be the Messiah, including his supposed contradictions of the Torah.

The genealogical debate surrounding Jesus's lineage to David is mentioned, with Christians arguing for the validity of his descent through adoption and Jewish objections to this claim.

The interpretation of biblical verses regarding Jesus, such as his birth from a virgin and his crucifixion, is discussed as a point of disagreement between Jews and Christians.

The fundamental difference between Judaism and Christianity is emphasized, with Judaism not believing in the need for a personal savior and Christianity centering on Jesus as the savior of all humanity.

The concept of spiritual blindness in relation to the acceptance of Jesus among Jews is explored, citing the New Testament book of Romans.

The call to prayer for Jews and all people in Israel is made, emphasizing the desire for them to come into communion with Jesus and receive everlasting life.

The video concludes with a recommendation for viewers to learn more about the evidence for God and a wish for a happy New Year.

Transcripts

you cannot come to Jesus and just

patronize him as a noble good Jewish

teacher because he crossed a line he

crossed a severe line and the Jews saw

that either he's the Messiah or he is a

blasphemer and he needs to be put to

death and those are really the choices

you have so you're about to witness a

rare moment where Ben Shapiro he gets

humbled on his own show the Ben Shapiro

show when Pastor John MacArthur comes on

here and completely corrects him on his

misunderstandings of Jesus and even goes

on to show him the Old Testament

prophecies in Isaiah 53 that directly

show the prediction of Jesus's coming it

gets very interesting here I'm going to

let this one play out and then I'm going

to give my thoughts in the back end

let's get into it when I read the New

Testament myself and I obviously not a

believer in the Divinity of Jesus but

when I see what Jesus actually has to

say about the Old Testament it seems to

me very similar to the stuff that

Zechariah is saying or that Jeremiah is

saying right Jeremiah says that the the

sacrifices themselves are based

basically of no use unless there's

actual meaning behind the sacrifices God

wasn't there because he likes the

barbecue right it actually has to have

some meaning and when Jesus comes along

and he says you're focusing in on all

the details of the Sabbath without

actually recognizing the rationale for

the Sabbath and then he exaggerates it

beyond the it's interesting Ling God

with all your heart soul mind and

strength right exactly and then he even

to make a point exaggerates it beyond

the scope of what Jewish law would

permit so for example when he says

you're going to leave a guy to diey in a

ditch on the Sabbath that's against

Jewish law you can't do that you have to

violate the Sabbath in order to Save a

Life this is like Basic Black letter

Jewish law but he's making a point which

is you guys are ignoring what's

important in order to focus in on the

mundane aspect of of practice like that

is that's not unique to Jesus in other

words there's there's a long prophetic

tradition of people saying exactly that

and in the modern Jewish world it's

called muser it's basically just telling

people what they should understand about

the values beyond the Beyond the Black

letter law and this is why I think it's

it's fascinating to me when I talk with

people who are real Biblical scholars in

the from the Christian side

that all the a lot not I won't say all a

lot of the areas where Christian

Scholars think that Christianity has

departed dramatically from Judaism I

think are not really dramatic departures

they seem to be reflections of Judaism

from a slightly different angle even so

far as a lot of the stuff in the Sermon

on the Mount about you know love when

when it says that you're supposed to uh

love thy brother as thyself and and

you're supposed to um and you're

supposed to uh treat your brother as you

would wish to be treated and all all

this I mean

that's that's present in the Old

Testament too no I I think what Jesus

did in The Sermon on the Mount was

Elevate the teaching of the rabbis

elevated he went above them yep he he

said um well you you've been told you

shouldn't commit adultery I'm telling

you if you look at a woman to lust after

her you've committed adultery in your

heart he got to the heart of the law uh

they were content with the the practical

application of the law he was not

content with that so I I I would say

that Jesus was the purest Jew that ever

lived because he understood the the the

elevation of the law to the heart and

the Soul um it would be a it would be a

monstrous responsibility for some

committee to have invented

Jesus uh you know when you hear even the

people in his time saying never a man

spoke like this man that he is a person

that doesn't seem to have been a product

of human invention

and you could say well Jesus is a good

teacher but good teachers don't claim to

be God they don't say I and God are one

they don't say I created the universe

that that's not a good teacher that's

somebody who's crazy as a lunatic or

somebody who's trying to pull off a huge

deception so you you you cannot come to

Jesus and just patronize him as a noble

good Jewish teacher because he crossed a

line he crossed a severe line and the

Jews saw that either he's the Messiah or

he is a blasphemer and he needs to be

put to death and those are really the

choices you have so when you ask me to

show the the variation between Judaism

and Christianity morally no there's none

and in terms of God the same we don't

have the same God as Muslims Allah is

not the same God as Jehovah we don't

have the same Gods as any other false

religion but we have the same God as

Jews and Christians he is the one true

Creator God the one true Living God he

has a seity that is he is eternal by his

own nature he is uncreated the uncreated

one we believe he is he is more than one

person in one God that's why Genesis

says let us make man in our own image

and relationship comes from a God who

has relationship within himself but the

distinction between Christianity and

Judaism is what we do with Jesus

Christ um the writer of Hebrew Hebrews

says if a sacrifice had been enough to

atone for sin they would have stopped

making them but they never stopped

morning and evening morning and evening

morning and evening morning and evening

you know basically a priest was a

butcher he had blood up to his waist I

mean he was a butcher he had blood up to

his waist and the frustration of it even

on yam Kapur the day of atonement all

the blood letting uh and year after year

after year after year this goes on this

goes on it goes on you have this most

amazing thing you come to the death of

Jesus Christ and at the death of Christ

the veil in the temple is rent from top

to bottom the holy of holies is thrown

open wow that's a statement from God

because it couldn't have been ripped by

men from the top down the way to God is

open there's no more barriers because a

a suitable sacrifice has been found this

is the Lamb of God and amazingly soon

after that the whole sacrificial system

ends because that's the final sacrifice

and God God validates that Sacrifice by

raising him from the dead the

resurrection is a provable historical

fact so I think that's the issue um it's

what do you do with Jesus he was God's

lamb uh a spotless lamb without blemish

God put on him the sins of us all this

is a stunning theological truth because

all the people who will ever believe

through human history their sins are

covered by Christ even those who

believed going back to Adam all of them

had to have a sacrifice that paid the

price for their sins whether it happened

before Christ their belief or after

Christ Christ is the focal point so he

bears in his body all the sins of all

who would ever believe through human

history this is a stunning thing to

think about um God putting all the sin

and all the punishment on him people say

what how could one person bear that um

the answer is because he's he's he's

he's a cosmic person he's he's an

eternal being he's he's vast Beyond us

with a capacity to take that punishment

so he gathers up all the punishment for

all the sins of all the people because

sin must be punished God is Holy and uh

that frees God satisfying his Justice to

offer Grace to all who believe in him um

I think that the Jewish Believers in the

Old Testament who are True Believers in

God and who did repent were waiting for

that sacrifice knowing that no animal

sacrifice ever did it because they had

to go back and make another one and

another one and another one when is the

one sacrifice going to come and that's

why that Isaiah 53 chapter is so

critical because that's the focal point

that's the focal point of Isaiah by the

way anyway Isaiah interesting book 66

chapters like the Bible the first

40 um are judgment like kind of like the

Old Testament

first 39 like the Old Testament and the

27 New Testament are about salvation the

27 chapters about salvation the first

nine are the the salvation of Israel

from Nations around it the back nine are

the salvation of the planet in the new

Heaven and the new Earth and the middle

nine are the salvation of people

personally and individually and in the

middle of the middle nine you have

Isaiah 53 it's

unbelievable what that book of Isaiah

it's it's it pulls it all together and

as you narrow down and you end up with

he was wounded for our transgressions

and this becomes the confession of all

who believe in Christ including one day

Israel so um I I want to say this to you

personally

um you are a testimony to um the glory

of God in man I I see the beauty of

God's creation in you I see um he's

starting to tear up a little

bit I I see the use of reason and

compassion and care I I I see so many

things in you so I I don't I'm not

denying that reflection of God in you

but I'm saying you either believe Jesus

is the savior or you don't and that's

the distinction now I have a question

and that's what is stopping Jews like

Ben Shapiro here from seeing Jesus as

the Messiah despite all the compelling

arguments in favor of him and so there's

a few things to talk about here one

being that Jews don't believe that Jesus

properly fulfilled the Messianic

prophecies a big one that I see talked

about online is the prophecy in Ezekiel

that's about the building the Third

Temple of

Israel I mean Jesus there wasn't any

Third Temple construction constructed

when Jesus was along here so it seems

like maybe he didn't fulfill this well

Christians counter this by saying two

things here one in the book of matth

Matthew when he's talking about he will

destroy if you destroy the temple he

will raise it up in 3 days they're

saying that could mean the Third Temple

or conversely it could also mean that

Jesus is going to create the Third

Temple during his second coming and

there's a few other prophecies about

this like an era of peace and then

another one that's about bringing the

knowledge of the god of Israel to all

people and Christians also say that that

is going to come during the second

coming then there's another thing that

Jews hold against Jesus and it's that

they don't believe that Jesus embodies

the personal qualifications to be the

Messiah for one they believe that Jesus

contradicted the Torah which I mean like

on dealings with the Sabbath which would

make him a false prophet and they

there's verses about this in the Old

Testament like in Deuteronomy I'll put

it on screen or something but Christians

counter and even Jesus himself said that

he did not come to change the law or to

replace the law but to fulfill the law

and the new the New Testament even

records that Jews had a misunderstanding

of the Mosaic Covenant and twisted it

into this sort of legalism that Jesus

came to restore not all Jews but the

Pharisees the Sadducees you read about

it there another thing that's

interesting is they also don't believe

that Jesus was a descendant of David and

this is interesting

because Jesus since he came from God

through the Virgin birth in Mary he

technically has no biological father

so and in that time the culture was you

inherit your bloodline

through your father so how could he be a

descendant of David well there's

genealogies recorded in the gospels

about Joseph that show that he is part

of the bloodline of David and the Jews

say well adoption into the davidic

bloodline isn't enough the Christians

say adoption into it is enough and

there's also a whole lot of debate about

the genealogies but that's really

complicated we're not going to get into

that here and another thing that they

that Jews hold against Jesus is that

they believe that the biblical verse the

iconic ones referring to Jesus are

mistranslations so for example the the

prophecy that's about predicting him

being birthed from a virgin well that

text can also be interpreted as him

being born of a young woman it doesn't

have to be virgin and another one is

that Jesus will be crucified but you can

also translate it that just his enemies

will surround him because that word for

gouged can also mean like a lion and

there are many other objections to Jesus

that rabinal Jews I think I'm saying

that right have against Jesus but I mean

both sides they're going to disagree on

things and people are going to find ways

to use the evidence to support their

beliefs and I think what's underlying

all of these intellectual duels going on

surrounding Jesus and Christianity

versus Judaism it's something much

deeper going on here and it's that in

Judaism Jews don't believe that they

need a personal savior they don't

believe that they are born in a state of

sin but the truth is is that we are all

born into a fallen State and that we all

need a savior and you can keep doing

those sacrifices over and over like

recorded in the Mosaic Covenant but that

is not is that's not what's going to

bring you the Everlasting savior the one

true savior that can cover all sins for

your whole lifetime he can clothe you in

righteousness and that is the Lamb of

God it's Jesus he is the ultimate

fulfillment of everything that has led

up to this and to accept Jesus as your

lord and savior you just need to believe

in him and trust in him to be the only

Lord of your life and to turn from any

unrighteous ways that are in your life

and just pursue him God said that he

gave Israel its spiritual blindness in

the Book of Romans it's New Testament so

Jews I mean they're not they don't

believe this here but it said that um he

would cover their eyes from seeing and

cover their ears from hear hearing and

so the best thing that we can do here is

to pray for them pray for all of the

people in Israel pray for all of the

Jews who don't know Jesus at their lord

and savior that they will come to in

communion with him and receive

everlasting life and if you want to

learn more about the evidence for God I

recommend checking out the video on

screen right about there have a great

day happy New Year too