Midrash

A collection of 39 posts

Second Temple Judaism

The Mystery of Wine & Wisdom: Emptying Our Vessel

A strange encounter between a Rabbi and the daughter of the Roman emperor opens the door to a deeper mystery about humility, the soul, hidden wisdom, and the meaning behind Jesus’s teaching about “new wine.”

New Testament Insights Featured

Was Thomas a Doubter? The Pharisees' Tradition and the Resurrection.

Thomas's refusal to believe in the resurrection without seeing Jesus's wounds is typically read as a failure of faith. But against the backdrop of rabbinic tradition, the Gospel of John affirms details of the Pharisaic tradition of the Resurrection of the Dead.

Midrash

Video: Reading Acts 10 as a Midrash on Zechariah 8:23

In a previous article, we explored how Peter’s vision was not intended to collapse the Biblical dietary laws. In this, we go deeper and look at how this story may actually be a creative Midrash on Zechariah's prophecy of the Messianic kingdom.

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Holidays and Festivals

Angels Behind the Scenes: Hidden Miracles in Esther

The story of Esther is about the hidden hand of Hashem. But hidden doesn't mean absent. Drawing on Esther Rabbah and other Midrashim, we explore how Divine providence operates through angels, accidents, and unseen nudges.

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New Testament Insights

The Traveling Rock and Miriam’s Well

From the Apostolic writings and the Tosefta, to Chasidic tales and modern accounts, the tradition of the life-giving rock that accompanied Israel in the wilderness highlights the continuous presence of G_D, while connecting with Messianic themes of redemption.

New Testament Insights

Peter's Vision: Is Acts 10 About Dietary Law?

Peter’s vision in Acts 10 is often interpreted as evidence of the nullification of the Torah’s dietary laws. Yet a closer reading reveals a different story. Further, this episode reads like a Midrash on Gentile inclusion, shaped by Biblical imagery and a distinctly Rabbinic style of storytelling.

New Testament Insights

Traditions and Commandments: Understanding Jesus's Teaching in Mark 7

Did Jesus reject Jewish dietary laws, declaring all foods clean? In this article, we unpack the discussion in Mark 7 to challenge the popular tradition that Jesus abolished Torah-given commandments, and reflect a misreading of first-century Judaism.

Midrash

eBook Available | Rabbinic Metaphors and Symbolism

I've recently made an eBook that contains the most common metaphors, symbolism, and numbers that are found in the Rabbinic literature and Midrash.

Videos

Video: Reading the Wedding at Cana as Midrash

The New Testament is often misread due to a lack of understanding of its rabbinic nature. What can we take away from this story when we view it through the lens of Jewish midrash?

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New Testament Insights Featured

The Crucifixion of Isaac

Years ago, I heard a lecture by an Orthodox Rabbi who shared some deeper insights about the event known in the Torah as the "Akeidah", the "Binding" of Isaac. I found incredible parallels in this story that match the Gospel narrative of Jesus's crucifixion and teachings.

New Testament Insights

Render Unto Caesar: The Rabbinic Discourse on Idolatrous Coins

When Jesus said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” he wasn’t only sidestepping a political trap, he tapped into a rabbinic debate on coins bearing idolatrous images. But beneath the surface lies a deeper theme: coins as symbols of the soul, each human being stamped with the divine image.

New Testament Insights

The Woman At the Well. John's Midrash on Ezekiel and 2 Kings

In this article, we explore John 4 through the lens of Rabbinic Midrash and its links to Ezekiel 16 and 2 Kings 17. Is the Samaritan woman a creative representation of Ezekiel's prophetic narrative, and if so, how does this change the way we read the Gospels.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Angels & Intermediaries: The Role of Malachim in Creation

What are Angels? Many cultures have a category for heavenly beings. And though they are indeed mentioned, Bible readers will not find comprehensive details about Angels within the texts. For that, we need to dig through the Jewish tradition.

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New Testament Insights

Who Is the "New Man" in Ephesians?

For centuries, Paul's vision of the “One New Man” has been used to erase Jewish identity in the name of Christian unity. But what if we've misunderstood him entirely?

Midrash Featured

The Wisdom of the Long Short Road: Finding Purpose Through Struggle

Not all shortcuts are short. A lesson from the Talmud provides a layered teaching about life, growth, and the soul’s journey.

Midrash

The Lion & The Dog. Humility and Ego in the Temple Offerings

The Jewish tradition tells us something profound and fascinating: when a sacrifice was brought with the proper intent, fire from above would descend and consume it in the shape of a lion. Majestic. Elevated. Spiritually-aligned.

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Midrash

The Resurrection of Lazarus

The story of Lazarus, as recounted in the Gospel of John, is one of the most profound miracles performed by Jesus. But when we look deeper at this story, with hints from the Jewish tradition, more details emerge.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

An Introduction to Demons in Jewish Tradition

In this article, we explore the Jewish tradition of the demonic. Through the Bible, Rabbinic, and mystical lenses, we'll reveal how Jewish thought interprets these supernatural beings, various classes, and their impact on the human experience.

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New Testament Insights

Sowing the Seeds of Redemption: A Hidden Message in Genesis 47?

Why does the tradition seem to be silent on the ending of Parasha Vayigash? Why does the Torah tell us about Joseph's interactions with the people of Egypt? Is there a Messianic hint in these passages for us to explore?

Torah

Genesis Misunderstood: The True Meaning of 'Adam' and Humanity

Many people have read Genesis believing that Adam and Eve were simply two individuals created in the Garden. This has created problems between religion and science, but what if this understanding was based on a misinterpretation? A closer look at the Hebrew reveals a profound nuance.

New Testament Insights

Proofs of Oral Torah: Jannes and Jambres, A Couple of Troublemakers from the Rabbinic Tradition

We explore the intriguing reference to Jannes and Jambres, and its implications, in Paul's second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:8). These figures are notably absent from the Christian canonical Bible but appear throughout the Jewish midrashic and kabbalistic tradition.

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New Testament Insights

Do Not Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand is Doing

In Jewish thought, the right-hand holds a special place in customs, rituals, and observances. This pattern is reflected in everyday activities from hand-washing, tying shoes, touching a Mezuzah, wrapping Tefillin and more.

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New Testament Insights

The Healing of the Woman and the Young Girl

One of the Gospel's most famous and well-known healing stories is of the healing of the woman and the young girl. What if this story was written as more of a Midrash, would there be a deeper message for us to glean?

New Testament Insights Featured

Abolishing the Torah

Often used as a proof-text for the abrogation of the Torah [commandments], in Matthew 5 we see Jesus citing a well-known Midrash to prove quite the opposite. Despite many modern (popular) interpretations, he forbids his audience from ever thinking of such an idea!

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Difficult Sayings of Jesus: "Eat of My Flesh"

A particular passage in the Gospel of John has been difficult for many readers to understand for centuries. The text indicates that many in Jesus's day had a hard time with it too.