The Guilt of the Jews

There’s a fascinating characteristic of the Jewish people: their understanding of “sin” is unique. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden because they listened to the serpent and ate the forbidden fruit. That’s the surface reason; the deeper reason is that if they had kept eating the forbidden fruit long-term, they would have truly gained superpowers like God. That, and only that, is what God could not tolerate—because it posed a threat to Him, it became sin.

When summarizing the Jewish people’s long history of wandering and persecution as recorded in the Old and New Testaments, the conclusion they reach is that it was their own fault. Why? Because they were not strong enough.

Their so-called “sin” means they are not strong enough; their so-called “repentance” is remorse over not being strong enough; their so-called “atonement” is the effort to change that situation of weakness.

If they were strong enough, they would have no sin—because sin can always be redefined.