Sermon Tone Analysis

The Feast of Sukkot & The Return Of The God Fearers

16 Then all the survivors from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot, and to celebrate Sukkot.

17 Furthermore, if any of the nations on earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot, they will have no rain.

Zachariah 14:16-18

Feast of Sukkot is connected to the nations

The nations have to trust God’s leadership and provision just like Israel had to trust God’s leadership and provision after they left Egypt at the place of Sukkot

But why just the Feast of Sukkot?

The nations have a different obligation to the Torah than Israel does.

21 You are not to eat anything that dies of itself.

You may give it to the outsider within your gates so that he may eat it or you may sell it to a foreigner.

For you are a holy people to Adonai your God.

You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Deuteronomy 14:21

Outsider = Ger = Guest

Foreigner = Nokri - stranger

Sojourner = Toshav = Resident Alien - protected citizen

-51

43 Then Adonai said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover.

No foreigner may eat it, 44 but every man’s servant that is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it.

45 Nor should a visitor or hired servant eat it.

46 It is to be eaten inside a single house.

You are not to carry the meat out of the house, nor are you to break any of its bones.

47 All the congregation of Israel must keep it.

48 But if an outsider dwells with you, who would keep the Passover for Adonai, all his males must be circumcised.

Then let him draw near and keep it.

He will be like one who is native to the land.

But no uncircumcised person may eat from it.

49 The same Torah applies to the native as well as the outsider who dwells among you.”

יָרֵא

יְהֹוָה

Those who Fear Adonai -

Those who Fear Adonai -

-4

2 O let Israel say:

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

3 O let the house of Aaron say:

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

4 O let those who fear Adonai say:

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

Acts 10:1-2

-210 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort. 2 He was a devout man, revering God with all his household.

He gave tzedakah generously to the people and prayed to God continually.

1Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort. 2 He was a devout man, revering God with all his household.

He gave tzedakah generously to the people and prayed to God continually.

-33

The Centurion’s Vision

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who are God-fearers, it is to us the message of this salvation has been sent.

10 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort. 2 He was a devout man, revering God with all his household.

He gave tzedakah generously to the people and prayed to God continually.

By the middle of the first century A.D. it is estimated that the world Jewish population was about eight million.

In the Roman empire, every tenth inhabitant was a Jew.

The most likely explanation of this increase is proselytism, as alluded to by numerous references in Philo, Josephus, the New Testament, Greek and Roman writers and the Talmud.

Salo W. Baron, “Population,” Encyclopaedia Judaica 13 (1971), p. 869

“Perhaps millions” of non-Jewish “sympathizers” to Judaism in the first century.

Arthur Hertzberg, “Jewish Identity,” Encyclopedia Judaica 10 (1971), p. 55

“The custom of this most accursed race has gained such influence that it has now been received throughout the world, [the Jews] are aware of the origin and meaning of their rites [but] the greater part of the people go through a ritual not knowing why they do so.”

Seneca - As quoted by Saint Augustine (City of God, 6.11)

“The Jews of Antioch were constantly attracting to their religious ceremonies a large multitude of Greeks and that they had in some measure incorporated them with themselves.”

Josephus, Against Apion 166–167

“The masses have long since shown a keen desire to adopt the Jewish religion,.... they observe abstinence from work on the Sabbath, the observance of the fast days and the lighting of the Sabbath lights and such practices that are observed everywhere.”

Josephus, Against Apion 282

Four categories of true worshippers of God— sinless Israelites, righteous proselytes, repentant sinners, and “Heaven Fearers.”

Midrash, Mekilta de Rabbi Ishmael 18 (on )- 2nd Century

What happened to all the God Fearers?

God Fearer Pillar of Aphrodisias - 4th Century

Church Council of Elvira, Spain around 306 CE, one threatening expulsion if landlords allowed Jews to bless their crops (Canon 49) and another prohibiting cleric or laypeople to eat with Jews (Canon 50).

"Many of our members who say that they believe in our teachings attend Jewish festivals, and even share in their worship and join their fasts" 368 CE - John Chrysostom, Antioch, Against the Jews, Encyclopedia Judaica

He thus takes seriously Chrysostom's complaint that "many of our members who say that they believe in our teachings attend their festivals, and even share in their worship and join their fasts" (Chrysostom, )

“On the Shabbats and Jewish festivals synagogues are full of Christians, especially women, who love the solemnity of the Jewish liturgy, and enjoy listening to the shofar on Rosh Hashanah” John Chrysostom, Against the Jews, Encyclopedia Judaica

A new crime of superstition shall obtain the unheard name of Heaven-Fearers [God-fearers].

Let them know, that unless they return within a year to the Christian veneration, they too shall be affected by those laws which we have ordered to be imposed on the heretics.

Some people, moreover, oblivious of their position, dare to transgress the Law to such an extent, that they force some to cease being Christian and adopt the abominable and vile name of the Jews.

Emperor Theodosius II - 409 CE - Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations

A new crime of superstition shall obtain the unheard name of Heaven-Fearers [God-fearers].

Let them know, that unless they return within a year to the cult of God and to the Christian veneration, they too shall be affected by those laws which we have ordered to be imposed on the heretics.

For it is certain, that whatever differs from the faith of the Christians is obviously contrary to the Christian Law.

Some people, moreover, oblivious of their and their position, dare to transgress the Law to such an extent, that they force some to cease being Christian and adopt the abominable and vile name of the Jews

Albigensians in the 12th century were called“Judaizers,” because they practiced some Jewish customs and observed some Jewish laws.

Louis H. Feldman “The Omnipresence of the God-Fearers.”

Biblical Archaeology Review 12, 5 (1986).

Hussites in the 15th century and some protestants were called Judaizers in the 16th century because they had adopted certain Jewish practices, such as abstention from certain foods or observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Louis H. Feldman “The Omnipresence of the God-Fearers.”

Biblical Archaeology Review 12, 5 (1986).

Millions of non-Jews are now returning as God-Fearers in Messianic Judaism

Indeed, many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek Adonai-Tzva’ot in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Adonai.”

Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

306

ce

, one threat-

ening expulsion if landlords allowed Jews to bless their crops (Canon

49

) and

another prohibiting cleric or laypeople to eat with Jews (Canon

50

).

21 You are not to eat anything that dies of itself.

You may give it to the outsider within your gates so that he may eat it or you may sell it to a foreigner.

For you are a holy people to Adonai your God.

You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.