וּדִים‬‎ (Yehudim)

Some today strongly believe that Jews are still God’s favored people. But, can anyone today prove they are a Jew?

In a sense, we can say that some of us Christians today are Americans, some are British, some are Hispanic, some are African, some are Chinese, etc. We can also say that some are male and some are female. We can also say that many are Gentiles, and a few are Jews.

In another sense, we can accurately say, that, for Christians, according to the scriptures, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11 NIV).

The Jews of Bible times were very conscientious of their genealogy, and kept meticulous records. Jesus of Nazareth had the irrefutable genealogy for his Messiahship. Matthew 1:1-16 provides a record of “the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham” (NIV), including “Judah” (Genesis 49:10). His birth at Bethlehem, in fulfillment of Micah 5:2 was also irrefutable (Matthew 2:1-10).

A notable case in point to illustrate this fact occurred among the returning Jewish exiles when an issue arose as to who were genuine descendants of the priestly line.

“The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel . . . These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat of any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim”—Ezra 2:59,62,63 NIV

Since these men could not prove their descent from Aaron, they were excluded from the priesthood. No priest has ever arisen since “with the Urim and Thummim.”

Historical facts prove that the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, including all the important genealogical records of the Jews. All evidence to prove anyone’s descent from Abraham was obliterated.

Therefore, no one on earth today can prove their descent from “Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), or whether they are a Jew.