Bein' a Berean
…outside the box but inside God's Word...
Remember that Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24). His words and parables, therefore, must also pertain primarily, if not exclusively, to those same lost sheep—Israel.
Tares, or Darnel, are described by the Faussett Bible Dictionary as:
"...impossible to distinguish from wheat or barley, until the wheat's ear is developed, when the thin fruitless ear of the darnel is detected. Its root too so intertwines with that of the wheat that the farmer cannot separate them, without plucking up both, "till the time of harvest." The seed is like wheat, but smaller and black, and when mixed with wheat flour causes dizziness, intoxication, and paralysis"
There is much being said of late regarding the origin and authenticity of the European Ashkenazi Jews, one of the subcultures—Hasidic, Sephardic, Falashi, Mizrahior, etc.
"The sons of Japheth: Gomer…and the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah." (Genesis 10:2-3)
These Ashkenazi, sons of Japheth not Shem, were from the region of Europe then known as Khazaria and are believed to have decided to become Jewish. They later spread into northern Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries. As converts, many have no association with a specific tribe of Israel. Could they represent the tares that Yeshua referred to in his parable? Often referred to as Khazari, these Ashkenazi Jews comprise 85-95% of Israel's population. Many of those who are very influential in world politics and finances have roots in northern European Jewish heritage.
Since there is no genome of Khazari origin against which to compare, nothing conclusive can be determined. Some geneticists suggest that the Georgian/Armenian people are descended from the Khazari. This too can not be confirmed.
Noah's blessing for Japheth, his first born, was that they would "dwell in the tents of Shem." (Genesis 9:27).
It is clear from Jesus' letter to the church of Philadelphia that some claim to be "Jews" but are not:
"Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you." (Revelation 3:9)
In Revelation 144,000 Israelites are sealed for a purpose:
"And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed." (Revelation 7:4-8)
It is not Jews or just Israelites that are sealed, but Israelites of very specific tribes. None of the Jewish subcultures are mentioned here.
What makes someone a Jew or more accurately an Israelite in the historical sense of the name? Is it birth or simply a conversion, declaration, and adherence to the religious practices and culture of that people group? Certainly, Gentiles are on record as having been grafted in as described in the Tanakh or Old Testament. But in each of these cases, they were grafted into a specific tribe.
What also makes this list interesting is that Dan and Ephraim are missing and Joseph was added. While it could be argued that Joseph represents Ephraim, who, with Manasseh were his two sons, Dan's absence is not explained.
Whether of Ashkenazi, Hasidic, Sephardic, Falashi, Mizrahior, or other "Jewish" subcultures, Yeshua's words do confirm that there are "tares" among the sons of Israel, wrong seed, which can only be identified and taken out when ready for harvest. This harvest is not to be confused with the rapture associated with the Ekklesia. This harvest of tares remains as an event that occurs at a time after the rapture.
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. (Matthew 24:40-41)
Be ready for His coming to Israel…
