Smoodock's Blog

It seems self-evident to the Christian that Isaiah 53 is speaking of the sufferings of Jesus, the Messiah. However, the modern Jewish teaching on this matter conflicts with that of Christianity. Nevertheless, this has not always been so. The fact is the current Jewish doctrine is more recent in its viewpoint, believing that Isaiah 53 speaks of the suffering Jewish nation atoning for the sins of mankind. While it is true, historically, that both Jesus and the Jewish nation have suffered, the ancient rabbis understood Isaiah 53 was speaking of an individual and not the nation. The teaching that the Jewish nation is the suffering servant didn’t appear for two or three hundred years after Jesus, and it can be argued that it is a Jewish response to Christian preaching. Nevertheless, the ancient rabbis believed the suffering Servant was the Messiah.

Babylonian Talmud: “The Messiah –what is his name?…The Rabbis say, The Leper Scholar, as it is said, `surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God and afflicted…’” (Sanhedrin 98b)

Midrash Ruth Rabbah: “Another explanation (of Ruth ii.14): — He is speaking of king Messiah; `Come hither,’ draw near to the throne; `and eat of the bread,’ that is, the bread of the kingdom; `and dip thy morsel in the vinegar,’ this refers to his chastisements, as it is said, `But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities‘”

It is clear that the ancient rabbis taught that the Servant of Isaiah 53 was the Messiah. Their words are recorded in the Jews’ own writings. The idea that Isaiah 53 represents Israel or the Jews suffering for the Gentiles is a recent teaching and is clearly not supported in the Scripture itself. The personal pronouns of Isaiah 53 deny the teaching that this Scripture speaks of the suffering of the Jews for mankind.

In verse-3 it is said: “…he was despised and we esteemed him not.” Who is we? In verse-4 it is: our diseases and pains were laid on him and we esteemed him striken of God. Of whom are these personal pronouns speaking? Was Isaiah sent to the Gentiles?

In verse-5 the pronouns are our transgressions and iniquities, and we are healed. Of whom could this be speaking? Certainly all mankind has fallen short of God’s purposes and, we all have sinned, but to whom was Isaiah sent and to whom do these personal pronouns apply in particular? These personal pronouns continue throughout this chapter to deny this doctrine. However, even if the personal pronouns could somehow be made to mean the nation of the Jews, how could Isaiah 53:8 refer to the nation?

Isaiah 53:8 JPS  By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.

When were the Jews as a nation cut off from the land of the living? Who is “my people”? If one were to carry this idea forward, this verse would be made to say the Jews, as a nation, were cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of “my people” – the Jews! Who do the Scriptures reveal are the people of God but the sons of Jacob? The whole premise of the modern Jewish teaching that Isaiah 53 represents “My Servant” – the Jews – suffering for mankind is unscriptural. This one statement in Isaiah 53:8 contradicts this Jewish doctrine that “My Servant” stands for the Jews suffering for the sins of mankind! The context denies such an understanding.

Therefore, the only logical conclusion is Isaiah 53 is speaking just as the ancient rabbis had taught, and just as Christianity has always believed, namely, that “My Servant” stands for the Messiah who would come. And this could only refer to Jesus. History records no other person with his credentials who suffered for the sins of the people of God and by extension for all mankind.

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