Yeshua is Not the Father

As a Jewish believer in Yeshua, I always wondered why some people think that Yeshua is the father. I realized that my youngest understanding of the God of my people was when I was 4 years old in a Jewish nursery school. I had a relationship with him for 32 years when I came to understand that Yeshua is the son of Hashem.

That realization made me wonder if that is why I knew the son of God could not be the father. I had a relationship with the father and then I also had a relationship with his son.

One of the most important declarations in all of scripture is the Shema:

Deuteronomy 6:4 (CJB):“Shema, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad.”(Hear, Israel! Adonai our God, Adonai is one.)  Let’s do some digging…

The Hebrew word echad (אֶחָד) is key. It means “one,” but not merely in a numeric sense. Echad often describes a compound unity, multiple parts that form a whole. For example, Genesis 2:24 says, “a man and his wife… become one (echad) flesh.” Two people, yet one unit.

In Mark 12:29, Yeshua directly quotes the Shema emphasizing it by calling it the most important commandment! Commandment, not suggestion. Why is it so important??

“Hear, O Israel: Adonai our God, Adonai is one (εἷς).” One, a unified one. But one with whom?

The Greek word used here is εἷς (heis), the equivalent of Hebrew echad. Yeshua does not redefine God’s nature. He affirms the Shema’s declaration that God is one, united, not divided.

Here a related Greek word, ἕν (hen), describes his relationship with the father:

• John 10:30 — “I and the father are one (hen).”

• John 17:21–23 — “that they all may be one (hen), just as you, father, are united with me and I with you.”

  
  

Here, Yeshua is not claiming to be the father. Instead, he models unity. Just as believers can be “one” in Messiah while remaining distinct persons, Yeshua and the father are united in essence, will, and purpose — yet distinct in personhood.

Paul continues this unity theme:

• Romans 12:5 “We, who are many, form one body in Messiah.”

• 1 Corinthians 10:17 “Because there is one loaf, we who are many constitute one body.”

• Ephesians 4:4–6 “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one trust, one immersion, one God and father of all.”  Notice that here both Lord and God are mentioned.

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The language points to unity, not singularity. Many believers, yet one body.

The witness of Scripture is consistent:

• Echad in Hebrew and hen/heis in Greek both mean oneness in unity.

• A husband and wife are echad — but they are not the same person.

• Believers are one body — but not identical beings.

• Yeshua and the father are one — but not one person.

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Thus, echad shows that the son is not the father. The Shema never collapses the father and son into a singular person. Instead, it proclaims unity. Yeshua affirms this unity and extends it as the model for His followers’ unity.

Understanding the depth of echad and hen helps clear up confusion. Yeshua did not replace or contradict the Shema. In fact, he said it was the most important commandment. He confirmed it. The father and the son are one in perfect unity, just as his people are called to be one, united in love, faith, and purpose, yet distinct individuals.