The Good News Talmud, Part IV. In Tribute to St. Antoninus, the Holy Maccabee

Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

- Matthew 13:52

Part IV. In Tribute to St. Antoninus, the Holy Maccabee

If sincere converts to Judaism enter Heaven, Antoninus will be at the head of them.

- The Talmud, Leviticus Rabba 3

For those Jews and Christians who are familiar with the Maccabees, the following story may well be an old one. However, for those readers not acquainted with the story of the Maccabees, one should take note that both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches recognize several Jewish participants involved in the Maccabee Revolt to be Christian Saints residing in Christian Heaven. One of these Saints is know as Saint Antonin (or Anton, Antoninus, Antonio, etc.), one of the Seven 'Holy Maccabee' Sons of St. Solomonia (Hannah, Mirriam). Anyway, I just recently discovered this quote in the Talmud and it made me realize that the ancient Jews must have taken Greek names from some of the more famous Greek Gentiles who openly and publicly converted from Paganism to Judaism thousands of years ago and long before Christianity became an option. With that in mind, the Good News Talmud, Part VI. is dedicated to Saint Antoninus, a Jew so devout he willingly chose and endured hideous torture and death rather than eat even a single bite of pork- truly a Maccabee (and Judeo-Christian) hero forevermore.




TALMUD: Let no man be deterred from repenting by knowing the great depth of his sin. Let him bear in mind that he does not come to a stranger but to his Heavenly Father. (Deuteronomy Rabba 2)
GOSPEL: What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:4-7)

TALMUD: The Tablets of the commandments were called Tablets of Stones, because the punishment for violating the commandments was death by stoning. (Exodus Rabba 41)
GOSPEL: Jesus went to the Mount of Olives....The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground...straightened up, and said to them, 'Let He who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'...When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, LORD.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go and from now on sin no more.' (John 8:1-11)

TALMUD: Let no man be deterred from repenting by knowing the great depth of his sin. Let him bear in mind that he does not come to a stranger but to his Heavenly Father. (Deuteronomy Rabba 2)
GOSPEL: For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones perish. (Matthew 18:11-14)

The Talmud in Classical Format

TALMUD: The Torah was to God, when He created the world, what the plan is to an architect when he erects a building. (Genesis Rabba 1)
GOSPEL: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-28)

TALMUD: The proverb says, 'If you give out your money in usury you will lose what you gain as well as your original capital.' (Leviticus Rabba 3)
GOSPEL: For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. (Matthew 25:29)

TALMUD: Once a man, twice a child. - Genesis Rabba 42
GOSPEL: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.' 'How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. 'Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!' (John 3:3-4)

TALMUD: The pure of heart are God's friends. (Genesis Rabba 41)
GOSPEL: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Guide to a Page of Talmud

TALMUD: Artaban sent Rabbi Judah Hanasa as a present a pearl of great value, and when be asked the Rabbi a present of equal value in return, the sage sent him a parchment (Ephesian letters). Artaban thought it unworthy, since his own gift was of such priceless value. Rabbi Judah replied that not only was his present precious above all the possessions of both, but it had immeasurable advantage over the valuable pearl, as care must be taken of the pearl, whilst his amulet would take care of its possessor. (Genesis Rabba 35)
GOSPEL: Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)

TALMUD: The human tongue is not free, like some other members of the human body, but is confined in the mouth, and moreover is constantly in moisture: yet how many burns can it cause with its sharp edge and its fire. How much worse then would it have been, were that dangerous member of the human body possessed of more facilities. (Leviticus Rabba 16)
GOSPEL: Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, `worthless one,' shall be in danger of the council, but whosoever shall say, `Thou fool,' shall be in danger of hell-fire. (Matthew 5:22)



TALMUD: Rabbi Tanchuma, son of R. Cheya, laid it down as a maxim that it is man's duty, when he becomes aware of any one having come down in the world, to consider the best means of helping him as quickly as possible. He himself would never purchase anything for his household without, at the same time, providing an equal quantity for the poor. (Leviticus Rabba 34)
GOSPEL: And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury, and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.' (Mark 12:41-44)

TALMUD: When the poor stand at your door, remember that their Maker stands at their right hand (Psalms 109), and consider it a high privilege for you to help them. (Leviticus Rabba 34)
GOSPEL: There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate lay a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ (Luke 16:19-26)

The Simpsons learn Talmud with Krusty the Klown's Father

TALMUD: Broken things are not admired, but God is pleased with a broken spirit and contrite heart. (Leviticus Rabba 7)
GOSPEL: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I (too) am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

TALMUD: All contention amongst the Israelites ceased when they stood at the foot of Sinai to receive the commandments, and owing to the peace and harmony that existed then amongst them they were fit and qualified to receive God's behests. (Leviticus Rabba 9)
GOSPEL: James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' They said to Him, "Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.' But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?' They said to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.' Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, 'You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant. and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.' (Mark 10: 35-45)

TALMUD: Once a man, twice a child. - Genesis Rabba 42
GOSPEL: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.' (Matthew 18:1-6)



May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Maccabees.