“Jew” vs. “Israel”: Why Christians Keep Getting These Terms Wrong (Part 1)

The Bible uses terms like Jew, Israel, Israelite, Hebrew, and the tribes of Israel—but are they all talking about the same people? In this episode of Relish, Alex Zimmerman and Pastor Don Patterson work through what the Bible actually means by these terms, how Israel's calling developed from Abraham through the Old Testament, what happened after the Jewish diaspora, and how Revelation's 144,000 fit into the discussion. We also tackle a surprisingly practical question: If you sell an animal knowing it will be used in another religion's ritual, are you participating in that religious practice? And underneath both conversations is a bigger question: What does it actually mean to be God's chosen people—and what happens when God's people forget that they were chosen to bless others? If you've heard conflicting claims about Jews, Israel, the 144,000, or God's purposes for Israel, this episode is an attempt to slow down, define the terms, and go back to the Bible. 00:00:44 — Selling Goats for Religious Sacrifice: Where Is the Line? 00:03:12 — When Does Religious Participation Become Our Responsibility? 00:05:17 — Who Are the Jews? Israel, Israelites, and Hebrews Explained 00:09:54 — The 144,000 in Revelation: Who Are They? 00:14:57 — Why Were the Jews Scattered? Understanding the Diaspora 00:18:46 — God Chose Israel to Bless the Nations—So Why Did They Rebel? 00:23:01 — The Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Sadducees: Who Were They? Do you have questions for Pastor Don? send them to tmadask@gmail.com #Bible, #Christianity, #jesus, #christian, #faith, #god, #bibleverse, #apologetics, #Relish