Dear Editor,

Early writers assert that Mattithyahu/Matthew wrote his book (Gospel) in Hebrew: Papias, Epiphanius, Hegesippus, Iranaeus, Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea, and Cyril of Jerusalem/Yarushalayim.

Even the Dead Sea Scrolls provided portions of Matthew written in Hebrew. The most important of these testimonies is that of Papias, a second century church father, “Matthew recorded in the Hebrew language the words (of Messiah), and everyone interpreted them as he is able” (Grintz, p. 43, quoting Eusebius). We can’t really understand the importance of Yahushua Messiah’s life and teaching without consideration of the Hebrew parallels. Messiah’s teachings will always be filtered through Western culture, and Messiah will continue to be completely missed or greatly misunderstood. This includes church leaders and many outstanding scholars.

Our Messiah is Hebrew and all of his 12 Taught-ones were also. They spoke Hebrew, they probably spoke Aramaic, Greek, and Roman, but their primary language was Hebrew. Although Yahushua was Hebrew, his teachings (theology) is treated as if he were Christian. But he never attended a church, never celebrated Christmas, never wore new clothes on Easter Sunday and they even took away his Hebrew name and gave him a Greek name (Iesus, later changed to Jesus in English). There is every indication that Yahushua learned Torah at a very early age and was fluent in his native Hebrew tongue. At the age of 12 his parents went to Yarushalayim, according to their practice every year, for the Festival of Pesah (Passover). He went missing and was later found in the set-apart place (Temple), sitting with the teachers, both listening and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers (Luke 2:40-52). Selah and Shalom brothers and sisters.

Ernest Andrews

Charlotte