Why Jesus cannot be the Messiah

1. Why Jesus cannot be the Messiah (from a Sinai-covenant perspective)

The Messiah, according to the Hebrew Scriptures, is a human king from the line of David whose mission is public, historical, and earthly, not spiritualized or postponed.

Key expectations that must be fulfilled in the Messiah’s lifetime:

Restoration of Davidic kingship

Rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem

Ingathering of all Israel from exile

Establishment of peace among the nations

Universal recognition of the God of Israel

Restoration of Torah observance

From this perspective:

Jesus did none of these things

The world remained violent and idolatrous

Israel was not restored but was later destroyed (70 CE)

The Temple was not rebuilt but razed

A messiah who fails to accomplish the messianic mission is, by definition, not the messiah.

The idea of a “second coming” is seen as an ad hoc solution, not a biblical one.

2. The problem with Christian readings of messianic prophecies

From this view, Christianity relies heavily on reinterpretation, typology, and retroactive readings rather than the plain meaning (peshat) of the text.

Common objections:

a) Isaiah 7:14

Refers to a sign for King Ahaz, not a future messiah

The Hebrew word almah means “young woman,” not “virgin”

The prophecy has an immediate historical fulfillment

b) Isaiah 53

The “suffering servant” is identified elsewhere in Isaiah as Israel itself

The servant suffers because of the nations, not to atone for them

No Temple, no priesthood, no sacrifice → no atonement mechanism

c) Psalm 22

A poetic lament, not predictive prophecy

Describes suffering but ends in vindication within the psalm

No indication of a dying-and-rising messiah figure

From this framework, Christian prophecy claims depend on:

Selective quotation

Translation choices favoring theology

Reading later beliefs back into earlier texts

3. Why the Sinai covenant cannot be replaced

This is the core theological objection.

The Torah explicitly states that the covenant at Sinai is:

Eternal

Unconditional

Binding on Israel forever

Key passages:

“It is an everlasting covenant for all generations”

“The Torah is not in heaven” (cannot be changed later)

God does not repent or change His mind

From this view:

A “new covenant” cannot replace Sinai

Any covenant that nullifies Torah observance is false by definition

God does not contradict His own law

Even prophets:

Cannot override the Torah

Cannot introduce new worship systems

Cannot abolish commandments

A messianic figure who:

Ends sacrificial law without a Temple

Replaces Torah with belief

Introduces divine incarnation

…is seen as violating Deuteronomy’s test of a true messenger.

4. The theological problem of incarnation and atonement

From the Sinai worldview:

God is absolutely one, indivisible, non-corporeal

God does not become human

God does not die

Human sacrifice is explicitly forbidden

Atonement requires:

Repentance (teshuvah)

Prayer

Obedience to Torah

Substitutionary atonement through a human death is viewed as:

Morally incompatible with Torah

Legally invalid without the Temple

Theologically incompatible with God’s nature

5. Summary of the core position

In short:

Jesus did not fulfill the biblical messianic mission

Messianic prophecies are reinterpreted, not plainly fulfilled

The Sinai covenant is eternal and non-replaceable

Torah cannot be abolished or superseded

God does not incarnate, die, or accept human sacrifice

From this framework, Christianity is understood not as a fulfillment of Torah, but as a theological departure from it.