Examples of Remez.
(Remezim, plural). Meaning (Hint)
synonyms: clue, inkling, suggestion, indication, indicator, sign, signal, pointer, intimation, insinuation, innuendo, mention, allusion, whisper,
The "im" at the end of a word means plural. (As in Elohim, which is a single/plural noun). Seraphim, Chreubim. One Seraph, One Cherub. Two or three Seraph is Seraphim and two or three Cherub is Cherubim.
In the Remez teaching, the rabbi's would use part of a Scripture passage in a discussion, assuming that their audience's knowledge of the Bible would allow them to deduce for themselves the fuller meaning of the teaching.
Jesus quotes parts of scripture that causes the scribes and Pharisees to draw on their own knowledge of scripture and come to a conclusion of what He was saying.
Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
Jesus responded to this indignation by quoting Psalm 8:2: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength,
Why did He quote this scripture?
Because He knew they would know the rest of the verse, which says: "because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger".
This second part of the phrase in the Psalm reveals why children and infants offer praise, because the enemies of God would be silenced.
They knew exactly what Jesus was implying.
The religious leaders realized that Jesus was implying that they were God's enemies.
Another time Jesus used a Remez was when Zacchaeus was up the tree and Jesus shouted to him "
Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
What Jesus was saying here was that He was the shepherd of the sheep and that He had come to seek and save the lost.
They would know the scripture that refers to this very thing for in Ezekiel 34:
Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
Eze 34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Eze 34:5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Eze 34:7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock
became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the
shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Jesus was causing them to bring to their remembrance the prophecies about the coming Messiah and by declaring that He had come to seek and sake the lost sheep, He was declaring that He was the promised Messiah.
This is why they were angry. They knew that Jesus was saying, you are the cause of the lost sheep, you are enemies of God. And to those gathered around He was saying "I am the Messiah, the great shepherd of the sheep.
To Zacchaeus, He was saying, "you are one of the lost sheep and I have come to seek you".
Jesus does this many times declaring certain things that hint at scriptures that the Pharisees would know and this is what made them angry.
Because they knew exactly what He was claiming. That He was the Messiah.
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
(Remez) Hints at:
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Jesus isn’t as mad about them selling stuff in the temple area as much as He is concerned that this was the only place the Gentiles could worship and they were not being allowed to do so.
Again the Remez, the hint was that they were the cause.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
(Remez) Hints at Psalm 22
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
(This verse relates to the Messiah and they would know that He was claiming to be Messiah.)
Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
(Remez) Hints at:
Exo 8:18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
Exo 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and
Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Again they would know what He was claiming.
Jesus made many Remezim that are recorded in the Gospels that garnered great controversy in His day. He said that He came from heaven .
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
He claimed He had the authority to forgive sins.
Luk 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luk 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
He said He was the “Lord even of the Sabbath”
Mar 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
But perhaps His most surprising assertion was given in response to the Jews in John 8. Amid a heated debate over His identity, Jesus told them, “Before Abraham was born, I am!”
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
This declaration is especially significant given that the phrase I am was used as a title for God.
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see". The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.
"None so deaf as those that will not hear. None so blind as those that will not see". Matthew Henry.
Jer 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
