A: We are eager to correct errors of fact and misleading or unnecessarily offensive language. However, there are limits to how much we can change and remain faithful to our calling. It is inevitable that if you take a stand for something, someone will find it offensive. After all, if there were no controversy, there would be no stand to take. We are well aware that much of Jewry is offended by our Messiah - it's in our Scripture, both Greek and Hebrew: .

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." - John 1:11

as it was written:

"He was despised, we held him of no account, yet it was our sickness he was
bearing" - Isaiah 53:3, JPS translation.

or

"We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles." 1 Corinthians 1:23

"He shall be for a sanctuary, A stone men strike against: A rock men stumble
over" - Isaiah 8:14

Of course, you can object to our interpretations of these Scriptures, but we cannot be silent just because someone takes exception. Who gets to decide what is "true" Judaism? Who is the ultimate  authority? We believe what we believe because of honest conviction from the Scripture.

Is the Moshiach also Moshiah? Is the Messiah also a Savior? "Judaism" as you understand it may say no. That kind of Judaism often claims that we do not need an intermediary, but what does the Tanakh say?

"He bore the guilt of many and made intercession for their sins" - Isaiah 53:12

and

"It is He who will redeem Israel from all their iniquities." - Psalm 130:8

It may be true that most Jewish people have been looking for a mere human Messiah, but can you show me chapter and verse = where the Tanakh says that? How do you know that Messiah is not more than a man? How can you limit God to fulfilling Scripture only in the ways you expect?

The New Testament is often misinterpreted as anti-Semitic because it contains some unflattering language. However, it must be understood that the New Testament, like the rest of the Bible, was written by Jewish authors who very candid about their own people's condition. Yeshua (Jesus) himself did call the Pharisees "unwashed sepulchers" and "sons of your father the devil," but this is very much in the style of the Hebrew prophets, who said such things as:

An ox knows its owner,
An ass its master's crib:
Israel does not know,
My people takes no thought.

Ah sinful nation!
People laden with iniquity!
Brood of evildoers!
Depraved children!
They have forsaken the LORD,
spurned the Holy One of Israel
Turned their backs [on Him].

(Isaiah 1:3-4)

or

Hear the word of the LORD,
You Chieftains of Sodom*;
Give ear to our God's instruction,
You folk of Gomorrah*!
What need have I of all your sacrifices?
Says the LORD.
I am sated with burnt offerings of lamb . . .
Your new moons and fixed seasons
Fill me with loathing. . . I cannot endure them

¡P Sodom and Gomorrah, of course, were cities destroyed back in Abraham's
time for their wickedness. These are not "nice" things to call someone. Was
the author of Isaiah anti-Semitic?

(Isaiah 1:10-14)

Jerusalem has stumbled
And Judah has fallen,
Because by word and deed
They insult the LORD
Defying His majestic glance. . .
(Isaiah 3:8)

My people's rulers are babes, it is governed by women
Your leaders are misleaders
They have confused the course of your paths

(Isaiah 3:12)


My people has exchanged its glory for what can do no good. Be appalled, O
heavens, at this; be horrified, utterly dazed!

(Jeremiah 2:12)

On every high hill and under every verdant tree you recline as a whore

(Jeremiah 2:20)

Because Rebel Israel had committed adultery I cast her off and handed her a
bill of divorce; yet her sister Faithless Judah was not afraid - she too
went and whored.

(Jeremiah 4:8)

"they refuse to listen to me (God) for the whole House of Israel are brazen
of forehead and stubborn of heart"

(Ezekiel 3:7)

"did not the house of Israel, that rebellious breed, ask you. . ."

(Ezekiel 12:9)

(Note that all of these quotes are from the Jewish Publication Society, so there is no Christian bias at work here.)

Is there anything in the New Testament any worse than these? At the same time, all these prophets had messages of hope for Israel, and the New Testament is clear that God will not abandon the Jewish people and then gentile "graftlings" have no room to boast. (Romans 11). Yeshua wept for Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41)  In the chapter as the "whitewashed sepulcher" remark, he said he longed to gather Jerusalem under his wings as a hen gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37). Paul said he wished he could be cut off for the sake his brothers, the people of Israel (Romans 9:4), and follows with "Theirs is the adoptions as sons; theirs the divine  glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all."  Now, you may have a problem with "Messiah who is God," but this passage is certainly not hateful.

If there were not souls at stake, we might get away with just "focusing on what we have in common as human beings, rather  than who believes what," but that would be an insult and a disservice to both Christians and Jews and  most of all to God himself, because it says, in effect, that none of it  really matters. (i.e. religion is foolishness) Nowhere does the Torah  instruct the Israelites to open dialogues with the Canaanites to find out what they have in common so they can all just live happily together. Rather

"Do not worship the Lord your God in like manner (as the Canaanites)" - Deut 12:4.  

Jesus instructed his disciples to go into all the world and preach
the good news of salvation, not go into all the world and see how much you have in common with the pagans. According to Judaism and Christianity, there is a difference between right and wrong before God.  It is not simply a matter of personal opinion. To a Christian, what people do with Jesus is vitally important. "For there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:18) That is why we are, and must continue to be, very concerned about "who believes what." We cannot be faithful to our Lord or claim to truly care about our fellow man if we are not concerned about what people believe.