It is difficult to criticise Judaism without being labeled anti-Semitic these days. The Anti defamation league is such a powerful group that it is almost written into international law that to cast any aspersions upon the Jewish people is highly suspect and that the offender must, by nature, be a Nazi sympathiser.
It is not my deliberate intention to criticise Judaism. I held the belief for many years that the Jews were distant cousins of Christians, that both religions shared a common heritage, and that the Jews were, are and always will be, Gods chosen people.
I still believe that Gods covenants with the Jewish people will be fulfilled, but I have reached a greater understanding of the reasons as to why Jesus spoke so severely against the chief priests.
It was because the chief priests and rabbis of the time, adhered to Talmudic traditions that were against the teachings of God as described in the Torah.
The Babylonian Talmud is the written tradition of the pharisees. It relates to almost every aspect of everyday Jewish life, dealing with issues of law and judgement, family life and business.
However, some of the customs of the Talmud are distortions of the teachings of Moses and permit cheating and stealing, violence and sexual immorality.
As to the question of how relevant 2500 year old scriptures are to Judaism today, many 20th century rabbis have stated that Talmud ism is the essence of Judaism and rather than being reserved for ultra-Orthodox Jews, it is widely practiced, even taking precedent over the Torah as the main source of spiritual wisdom.
Matthew 23 describes Jesus condemnation of the Pharisees. Here are just some of His accusations.
"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on me
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