The Good News Talmud, Part IX. The Wisdom of the West is Best

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 IX. The Wisdom of the West is Best

The Wisdom of both the Talmud and the Gospels is never-ending and a sweet song unto the LORD. Those in denial are always quick to say the Wisdom of the East is just as good if not better. In fact, all the wisdom of the East can be found in the West, but the even more complex wisdom of the Judeo-Christian West is still lacking. Here are even more examples of the profound similarities found in both documents, written a long, long time ago.

TALMUD: See what an excess of wine did in the world. Noah came out of the ark with his three sons, his wife and their wives, who composed the human family of the world; and a fourth of this he cursed in consequence of his indulgence.(Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (Luke 21:34)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.'- Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)

GOSPEL: Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:18-20)

TALMUD: It is prohibited to add to the canon of the Bible, consisting of twenty-four books. (Numbers Rabba 14)
GOSPEL: There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, 'JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.' Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; just because He said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, 'What I have written I have written.' (John 19:18-22)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.'- Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:11-13)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)

GOSPEL: This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.' (Matthew 12:17-18)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.... “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:1-14)

TALMUD: The infliction of stripes, given in the Torah, was not a severe punishment, and was moreover given in many instances in lieu of capital punishment, which the delinquent might have deserved besides. When the punishment had been inflicted, there was to be no further reproach attached to the punished individual, but he was to be received in the community as a brother (Deut. 25).--Numb. Rabba 5.
GOSPEL: Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. (John 19:1)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.' - Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? (Matthew 7:8-10)

TALMUD: See what an excess of wine did in the world. Noah came out of the ark with his three sons, his wife and their wives, who composed the human family of the world; and a fourth of this he cursed in consequence of his indulgence.(Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved to be right by what she does." (Matthew 11:18-19)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)

TALMUD: MOSES declared (Exodus 4) that he was not a man of words, but observe his eloquence in the book of Deuteronomy; an eloquence acquired since he gained possession of the Torah. (Deuteronomy Rabba 1)
GOSPEL: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.... 'I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father...They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:1-14)

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian Tradition.