Ancient Monotheistic Religion

Merriam Webster defines Judaism as “an ancient monotheistic religion, with the Torah as its foundational text, and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud.” God chose this group of people, while He could have chosen another group, because He knew that they would do greatness for Him. The Jews tried they best to follow Him and even when God had to remind they who they should follow, they still do not understand what God had plan for them and still looking for something that is right in front in them. Even though Christianity sprouted off from Judaism, Judaism missed some key elements about God and His word. The bible gives examples of why the Jews had strayed away from their faith, they missed the fact that the Messiah had come, and they think they are better than others.
Indeed, the Jews strayed away from their faith by taking the bible too literary and choosing what they want to hear. In the time of Jesus Christ, the Pharisees did not understand the meaning of Sabbath and so made the rule in their own eyes. As they questioned Jesus in Matthew 12:1-3, it says, “At that time Jesus went…’Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on Sabbath.’… ‘…hungry?’” Another example is that the
Samaritans only chose to believe the first few books of the bible, and disregarding all the other parts of God’s word. As David Rightmire says about Jews sects, “The Samaritan sect believed only in the Five Books of Moses.” These reasons explains why the Jews strayed away from their faith.
Furthermore, the Jews missed the fact that the Messiah had come since they had an idea of what they wanted him to be. They thought that the Messiah would be a great general that would takeback the land that is rightfully theirs. The Pharisees thought that if Jesus were to start a war, that they would get blame for it. Even with all this miracles, they thought that it was the devil work and not from God thus not trusting Him. As In Matthew 12:24, the Pharisee claimed that Jesus miracles was the work of the devil and speaking blasphemy against God. With all these fact and evident that Jesus is the messiah, Jews turn a blind eye to it and still wait for him to come.
Also, the Jews think they are better than others because God made them His holy people.
In the time of Ezra, Samaritans were looked down on since they did not believe in all of the books of the bibles. God wants everyone to understand that no one person is more holy than the other, but the Jews do not understand this and put down anyone that do not follow them. This also applies to the Jewish Pharisees, as they believed that because they studied the Torah, that they were more holy than everyone else. Jesus rebukes them in Matthew 23:3-4 saying, “So you must obey them… they do not practice what they preach… not willing to lift a finger to move them.” So because of their pride, the Jews think that everyone else is less holy than
them.

Because of the examples from the bible, one can see that the Jews had strayed away from their faith, that they missed the fact that the Messiah had come, and that they are prideful over others. Just through the Jews not understand the word of God had them stray away from Him. As well, they missed the fact that the Messiah had come because of their idea of how He should be like. Lastly their pride makes them blind to God wants them to do and they judge people on their short comings. Judaism has many problems as other religious have but they know that God still loves them; that even when they do not understand why God let a bad event happen, that He will stay by their side. Christians understand this too and why Jews have many ideas right. I believe that one day, Jews will understand what God wants and praise Him that the Messiah had come.