The Washington critic., 1890-04-04
JESUS Avn TIE Jews.
Was the Saviour Rejected by "Gods
Chosen People?"


From me Ne,o York ,Sun.
Rabbi Gotthell is preaching at the
Temple Emanuel, the magnificent
Jewish synagogue in the Fifth avenue,
series of very striking sermons, ex--
planning and defending the attitude OF
the Jews toward Jesus and his teach
ings while the founder of Christianity
was still on earth. AS DR.. Gotthell is q
man of learning, of much breadth of
view, and philosophic spirit, these
discourses deserve the careful considera-
tion of Christians. There Is no bitter
ness in them, and they are respectful
of Christian sentiment and conviction.
He has pointed out that, as in the
days of Jesus, the Jews were already
widely scattered, and the means Of
communication were slow and difficult,
only small minority of the race within
the boundaries of Judea were cogni-
zant of the mission, the teachings, the
doings and the very existence of the
Christ. The great majority were in
complete Ignorance of his life and the
manner of his death, and therefore
could not be held accountable for the
tragedy of Calvary.
The New Testament in many places
records that in Judea itself, wherever
he went, he was followed by crowds,
who listened eagerly to his doctrines.
He was admitted into the synagogues
though his teachings were subversive of
the prevailing religion and the existing
social system, and when he drove the
money changers from the temple itself
II is not recorded that anybody rose up
in opposition. He bitterly assailed the
Pharisees, the fathers of the Jewish
synagogues, and yet when he predicted
the ruin of the temple and nation. and
some of the hearers picked up stones to
cast at him, the Scribes and Pharisees
gathered about for his protection.
This is the way in which Dr. Got
thell reads the Gospels. They seem to
him to show that the contemporary
Jewish spirit was liberal rather than
otherwise, tolerant and receptive; that
the Jews rejected Jesus only "as God
or part OF the Deity" As moral in
structor they listened to him with re.
spect. AS o worker Of miracles He
was sure to appeal to the popular de-
sire, and the crowds about him were so
great that he had to escape from them
by stealth. AS the redeemer of the
world they would gladly have accepted
him If they could have comprehended
the mystery.
AS the Messiah they neither accepted
nor rejected him, but waited for proofs
TO sustain the claim, their teaching hav-
ing been that the Messiah was to be an
earthly ruler, not one who was to lead
them into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was loved and respected of the
people and opposed by few priests
only. When he entered into Jerusalem
he had a royal reception, and some
cried, 'Hosannah to the Son of David,
so that the whole city was stirred by the
tumult."
This is a view of the subject which
will be novel for Christian readers
generally. 1t is not presented in the
Christian commentaries on the New
Testament, and yet the Gospel records
sustain it. Undoubtedly, the Jews as
mass rejected Jesus in his supernat-
ural character, but in that respect were
they different from large part of the
leading intellects of our own day? The
more their intellectual training the
more inclined they were to criticise his
claims to Divinity; but is not that the
case to large extent in the modern
| Christian world2
The Scribes who were guardians of
the public peace were appalled, by his
revolutionary doctrines. They believed
that they would utterly upset the exist.
ing social order, break up the family
overturn the authority of government
and introduce communism and anarchy
in their place. But has not Christen
dom practically expressed the same be.
lief by refusing to mold society aftel
the model of Jesus, and by constructing
it on radically different and directly op,
posing principles?
TO use the phrase Of st. Paul, does
it not cruelty Him afresh and continu
ally? Let Christians ask themselves
therefore, whether Rabbi Gotthell is moi
justified in inquiring if, in actual prac
tice, they accept the teachings OF
Jesus as divine commands any more
than do the Jews. Is it not true
that, like the Jews of old, they take
such parts of His system as suit theil
own opinions and convenience and cast
| aside the rest?
Dion Boucicault is at work on a new
comedy'drama that is to open the reg