What is Midrash?.

Introduction

Midrash is a way Jewish rabbis and scholars have explored and explained the Hebrew Bible for thousands of years.

Think of it like a deeply thoughtful, creative, and often imaginative conversation with the biblical text. It's not just a literal reading; it delves into the "why" and "how," filling in gaps, answering unasked questions, and drawing connections between different parts of the Scripture.

It helps us understand Scripture better by revealing layers of meaning that aren't immediately obvious.

From Storytelling to Application

Midrash often uses storytelling, parables, and even wordplay to illuminate moral lessons, theological insights, and the practical application of biblical teachings to daily life. It also shows how the ancient Israelites wrestled with the text and found timeless wisdom within it.

For reading the New Testament, understanding Midrash is incredibly valuable. Yeshua (Jesus) and the apostles were Jews steeped in this very tradition. Their teachings, parables, and arguments often reflect midrashic patterns of thought and interpretation.

Commonly used in New Testament (Brit Chadashah)

We see that Midrash was used very widely in the New Testament, not only by Yeshua Messiah, but also Paul and other apostle writers. Yeshua, our earthly Rabbi, showed us clearly

God's Moral Lessons
Theological insights
and a deeper spiritual application of Torah through His teachings

By recognizing Midrashic patterns, we can better grasp the original Jewish context of their words, seeing how they were building upon and reinterpreting existing Jewish ideas and scriptures. It helps us understand the nuances and depth that might otherwise be missed when read solely through a Western, non-Jewish lens.

Modern Christian Understanding

Traditional Christian doctrine has neglected to read the New Testament in its original Jewish context. All parables of Yeshua are deeply rooted in Midrash and can only fully be understood in context of 1st century Judaism. Yeshua called us to follow Him, and in order to do that, we do well understanding what He really meant.

Modern Christian doctrines, so it seems, have further and further moved away from 1st century Judeo-Christianity. In other words, the church in large parts has disconnected itself from the original teachings of God through Messiah.

Getting back to the Truth

Through this movement, it seems, the church has lost its "Way" teaching doctrines that the Bible warns us about—even the apostles warn us about.

For Christians to understand the Truth, we must be open to hear, read, and apply what is written and conveyed in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament). Not what we feel it says, but what it really says in the original Jewish context.

Yeshua told us "The Truth will set you free".

We must stand in allegiance with our Lord and Saviour, and fulfil our great commission by sharing the Truth—even if it means being persecuted by our fellow brethren.
The Truth is not what Christians today think the Bible says. It is what God says.

We all are locked in our ways and it is hard to get out. Once we form an argument we do not want to be proven wrong. In this case, salvation depends on it. The true understanding of Yeshua's messages reflecting the Tanakh is crucial for our understanding...and even more important for our salvation.