Zeal for the Law – The Story of the Maccabees

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered by Matthew Vander Els, explores the historical and spiritual significance of Hanukkah. While many understand Hanukkah as a straightforward story of Jewish heroes, the Maccabees, standing up against Greek oppression, this teaching delves deeper into the complexities and often overlooked lessons embedded within the narrative. It connects these historical events to broader biblical themes of faith, leadership, the dangers of unchecked power, and the unwavering presence of God.

The story of Hanukkah begins over a century before the events of the New Testament, with the conquests of Alexander the Great. His vast empire eventually fragmented, and Judea fell under the control of the Seleucid Empire, ruled by King Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus sought to impose Hellenistic culture and religion on all his subjects, a move that posed a direct threat to the Jewish identity, which was deeply intertwined with their faith. He outlawed core Jewish practices such as circumcision, Sabbath observance, and kosher dietary laws, and even desecrated the temple in Jerusalem by rededicating it to Zeus and forcing pagan sacrifices.

Amidst this oppression, a rebellion sparked in the village of Modin. A Seleucid officer ordered an elderly priest named Matthias to offer a pagan sacrifice. When Matthias refused and another Jew stepped forward to comply, Matthias killed both the officer and the Jew. This act of defiance ignited the revolt, and Matthias, along with his five sons, fled to the hills, rallying others to their cause. After Matthias’s death, his son Judah, known as the Maccabee (the Hammer), took leadership. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Judah led a successful guerrilla campaign against the Seleucid army, employing superior tactics, unwavering faith, and knowledge of the terrain.

In 164 BC, Judah’s forces reclaimed Jerusalem, and they found the temple devastated. They undertook the monumental task of purifying, sanctifying, and rededicating the temple to God. This act of rededication is the foundation of Hanukkah, which literally means “to dedicate.” The speaker points out that the dedication was patterned after the eight-day festival of Sukkot, during which Solomon’s temple was initially dedicated. This rededication symbolized a spiritual renewal for the people, a recognition that God had been with them throughout their struggles, leading them from darkness back into light.

However, the teaching emphasizes that the story of Hanukkah is not just a simple tale of victory. The leadership passed down through Judah’s family led to the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty. While initially fighting for religious and political autonomy, the Hasmoneans gradually grew in power and began to mirror the oppressive Greek rulers they had overthrown. They became king-priests, using religion to further their secular ambitions, leading to corruption, brutality, and the imposition of their own oppressive ways upon the people. This period serves as a cautionary tale about how unchecked power can corrupt even those with righteous beginnings. The speaker notes that Jewish tradition itself heavily critiques the Hasmoneans as a lesson in failed leadership. The focus of Hanukkah in Judaism is primarily on the rededication of the temple, reminiscent of the Feast of Tabernacles, rather than the glorification of the Maccabees.

To further illustrate this point, the teaching connects the historical context of Hanukkah to a passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 10, which mentions Jesus being in the temple courts during the Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah). This occurs after Jesus’s conflict with the religious leaders in chapter 9, where he heals a blind man, challenging their authority and their interpretation of religious law. The speaker suggests that the Gospel writer, John, intentionally places Jesus’s presence at Hanukkah within this context to draw a parallel between the zealous religious leaders of Jesus’s time and the Maccabees and their successors, the Hasmoneans. Just as the Hasmoneans, who started with zeal for God’s law, became oppressive, so too, the religious leaders in Jesus’s time were accused of oppressing the people and being gatekeepers of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus, by identifying himself as the Good Shepherd in this same context (referencing Ezekiel 34), contrasts his selfless leadership with the self-serving leadership of the bad shepherds of Israel’s past and the flawed legacy of the Hasmoneans. The sheep, representing those who truly follow God, recognize the Good Shepherd’s voice, unlike those who prioritize their own power and control. The miracle of the blind man, who received sight and followed Jesus despite the opposition of the religious authorities, exemplifies this.

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Applications for Everyday Life

• Recognize God’s constant presence: Just as God was with the Israelites during the Maccabean revolt and the subsequent struggles, He is always with us, even when we feel distant or focused on our own battles.
• Be wary of the pursuit of power: The story of the Hasmoneans serves as a stark reminder of how the pursuit of power, even with good intentions, can lead to corruption and oppression. We should examine our own motivations and avoid seeking control over others.
• Prioritize true faith over outward zeal: While zeal for God and His law is important, it should not become a tool for judgment or control over others. True faith is characterized by love, compassion, and a recognition of our own limitations.
• Be open to rededication: Hanukkah is about rededicating the temple, a place of God’s presence. In our own lives, we may need to tear down “altars” of control, jealousy, or bitterness and rededicate ourselves to God’s will. This involves handing over our “swords”—our attempts to control situations—to God.
• Trust in God’s plan: Just as the blind man trusted in Jesus despite the opposition, we are called to trust in God’s guidance, even when it doesn’t align with our own expectations or desires. God’s ways are often bigger and beyond our understanding.
• Discern true leadership: The contrast between the flawed leaders in the story of Hanukkah and Jesus, the Good Shepherd, highlights the importance of discerning true leadership that prioritizes the well-being of others and follows God’s heart.

References

Bible Verses:

• Ezekiel 34
• Matthew 23
• John 9
• John 10
• Proverbs 26
• Deuteronomy
• Numbers
• Hebrews 11

Books and Resources:

• Maccabees 1
• Maccabees 2
• Maccabees 3 (mentioned)
• Maccabees 4 (mentioned)
• Apocrypha Catholic Bible