For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Bruce Lyon
Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Gen:49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh - Jesusbcome; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
May that day soon come when he returns to gather the remnant of Israel to himself in the land when he takes his place on the throne of David at Zion with all of us who at that time will be immortal men and woman co-ruling with him in the Theocratic Government that will rule over Israel and all the nations of the world. What a glorious hope we have in Jesus!
Billye Miles Seale
One comment regarding the statement: “His aunt and uncle, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were also Torah-observant Jews (Luke 1:6),” ...
I thought Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin, making her Jesus’s cousin, once removed... not aunt
Strong’s Number G4773 συγγενής Transliterated Word suggenēs , meaning relative by blood, cousin kin.
Regardless, it might be better to say “relatives” rather than “aunt & uncle.”
Len Thies
Since no one has pointed this out, I find it ironic that the accepted definition of a Jew is born of a Jewish mother or a gentile convert. On the other hand, the writers of the Bible use the lineage of the father in their genealogies!
James Kraft
Yes. Jesus was a Jew. The genealogy of Jesus proves He was a Jew by birth. Mary was a Jew. But Mary was a virgin and Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly for us to be saved. We are saved by His life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus said, no one can come to the Father except though me.
Jesus is our righteousness before God. Romans 4:6 He has imputed HIs perfect righteousness to us apart from works.
Jesus is the narrow way because there is no other way to be saved than what HE did for us. He paid the debt and set us free. John 3:18 Believers can never be condemned to hell again. Unbelievers are condemned already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God.
First John 2:2 Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, so that any one who would believe it would be saved. John 6:47
First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
We have eternal life now. Paid in full by the giver of eternal life. John 10:28-29.