The idiocy of hating "the Jews"

Hating “the Jews”

Letter to the editor;

Three times in years past, men have come to my home to convert me to the proposition that I really should dedicate all my time, effort and money to hating “the Jews”. Each of these men said with missionary zeal that “the Jews” killed Jesus, and that their descendants are the blasphemous enemies of Christ.

What does the Bible say about going to all that trouble to hate “the Jews”?

My Bible says Jesus was Himself a Jew. His mother and step-father were Jews.

His brothers and sisters were Jews. His friends and neighbors were Jews.

When Jesus worked with his step-dad, their suppliers and customers were Jews.

When Jesus began his ministry, He went to a Jew to be baptized.

His Apostles and disciples were Jews. His hearers and hecklers were Jews.

Except for that lone Samaritan, all the characters in His parables were Jews.

Except for that Phoenician woman (and one leper) all those He healed were Jews.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, untold thousands of Jews threw Him a parade. They lay their coats down for Him to ride over. They called Him the Son of David. They did their best to make Him King. (Who knows? Maybe they DID.)

The faction of Jews that arranged His death was so small and powerless that it had to act in the dark, by stealth and treachery, and hold an unlawful night “trial” in order to have a “case” to present to Pontius Pilate first thing in the morning – before the word got out and thousands of Jews would come to rescue Jesus.

No. I don’t find grounds in the Christian Bible to hate Jews. In fact, Saint Paul (who wrote most of the New Testament) said it is his highest hope that Israel might be saved. Yes, the Bible has hard words for certain Jews, but it does not teach us to hate Jews in general.

Glenn Jacobs
Eagar, Arizona