That Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew: Part 12: Jacob's Prophecy 2
come into existence, but in his day he was satisfied that there was no sovereign Jewish political entity and that the prophecy of Jacob pointed to Christ. You may want to read the supporting psalms Luther quotes.
Luther also displays his depth of knowledge of the responses of Jews. No doubt he heard these arguments countless times as he witnessed to Jews about the saving grace of Christ. There are several arguments Luther lists against Christ being Shiloh:
* Shiloh does not signify the Messiah or Christ,
* The nations which are gathered to him may well be only the Jewish nation, and shiloh means a lord,
* Jesus has never done what Jacob later says of this shiloh, namely, "He will bind his foal to the vine, and his ass to the choice vine; he will wash his garments in wine, and his mantle in the blood of grapes"
Luther answers each with wit and clarity. He appeals to common sense. To be sure we can get all wrapped up and warped in dogma and teaching and following what we are told is "the truth." Words are twisted and turned. But Luther simply follows a logical pattern and thought process. To the above arguments Luther answers:
Shiloh does not signify the Messiah or Christ
It matters not whether he is called Messiah or shiloh; we are concerned not with the name, but with the person, with the fact that he shall appear when the scepter is taken away from Judah. No such person can be found except Jesus Christ; otherwise, the passage is false. He will be no mere cobbler or tailor, but a lord to whom the nations will be gathered; that is, his kingdom will be more glorious than the scepter ever was before, as has been said.
Obviously Luther sees this passage as Jesus ruling the world now as well as ruling for all eternity after this earth passes. Luther says the person, not the name or title, is what is important in this passage. As you read Luther's piece, take note of what shiloh means.
The nations which are gathered to him may well be only the Jewish nation, and shiloh means a lord
Luther explains that Shiloh means one who is prosperous, one who enjoys the good life. What better life is there than living with Jesus for all eternity? Let me remind you that Jesus often compared heaven to "a feast." Did Jesus have this concept of
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