Yeshua and Judaism, Part X: Mashal (The Wedding Feast)

Yeshua & Judaism: Part X – Yeshua & Mashal

Recap: Yeshua, The Light, and The Heavy

• Did Yeshua attend a synagogue? What about His talmidim (Disciples)?
• Name some parts of Judaism that Yeshua practiced. (Pardes, Vehavta, The Shema)
• What does Qal V’Chomer mean? קַל וָחוֹמֶר Give me an example. Mt. 6:30; 7:9-11.
• What key phrase is often connected to Qal V’Chomer?
• Did the Apostle Paul use this Rabbinical method of teaching?

Opening Passage: Matthew 13:33-35

I – Mashal (Meshalim)

Yeshua was a Rabbi. He operated within the framework of 1^st Century Judaism.

As a Rabbi he taught using methods that are still practiced in some instances by Rabbis today. Today we will be discussing the concept of . Hebrew: מָשָׁל

Mashal is the use of used to understand difficult concepts within the Torah. It is typically a metaphor or analogy. Matthew 13:35. Reference to Psalm 78:2. (Mashal)

“If you want to see, light a candle. If you want to understand, learn the parables.”

Typically a Rabbi would introduce the concept of Mashal with an introductory question:

Hebrew Lesson: לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה?

• Mah = . L’Mah = . לְמָה
• Dabar – , , or . הַדָּבָר
• Domeh – or דּוֹמֶה
• Often Rabbis will start off a parable with the question: “To can this be ?”
• Key word in Hebrew that is most often used is Domeh – A comparison. Or “to liken”
  • Comparisons: A King = Adonai; Vineyard = Israel; Servants = Prophets or The Righteous.

Examples: (Talmudic References)

• The King who wanted to Marry: (Song of Songs Rabbah 1:14) (Ref. Exodus. 19:8-9)
  • To what can this be compared? To a king who wanted to marry a noblewoman of high birth. He sent a messenger to her, who spoke to her. She said, “I am not worthy to be his maidservant, but I want to hear it from his mouth.” When the messenger returned to the king, his face was smiling, but his words were inaudible. The king, who was clever, said, “It would seem that she said, ‘I want to hear it from his mouth.’” Thus, Israel is the noblewoman, the messenger is Moses, and the king is God. When Moses returned the people’s word to God, it says: Behold I will come…” (5^th-8^th Century C.E.)
• A King with Two Sons. (Lamentations Rabbah Proem 2:2) (Israel & Judah)
• The Fox & The Fish. (b. Berakhot 61b.)
• The Unknown Banquet. R. Yonatan Ben Zakkai. Then Solomon in his wisdom said: “Let your garments be always white & let your head not lack oil.” [Eccl. 9:8]
  • Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai said: “This may be compared to a king who summoned his servants to a banquet but he did not appoint a time for them. The wise got themselves dressed and sat at the door of the king’s house. They said: ‘Is anything lacking at the king’s house?’ The foolish went on with their work. They said: ‘Is there any banquet without toil? Suddenly the king summoned his servants. The alert gathered before him all dressed up, while the foolish gathered before him all soiled. The king was pleased with the alert but angry with the foolish. He said: ‘Let those who dressed for the banquet sit, eat & drink. But let those who did not dress for this banquet stand & watch.'” – Talmud Babli Shabbath folio 153a (2^nd Century)

The Most popular mashalim are those that involve a . One of the most difficult concepts for modern believers to reconcile is teaching concerning the .

Matthew 22:1-14.

Vs. 1 – Matthew begins this portion telling us directly that Yeshua is teaching using Mashal, and the emphasis is on the word “”.

Vs. 2 – “The Kingdom of Heaven may be to…” Yeshua is using Mashal.

Important: Matthew uses circumlocution – A way of reverencing Adonai .

Luke is much more direct because his audience is towards the Gentiles. Luke 13:18-21. Compare: Matt. 13:31-31

We find Yeshua using Mashalim all over the gospels. Why? Because Yeshua was a Rabbi.

Questions?