The Scrolls do have some similar teachings to what Jesus taught: i.e. idea that deceases can be caused by demons; removing demons by exorcism; and the similarity between the beatitudes of Jesus and those of the scrolls.
Matthew 5:3-11
2. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
4. Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted.
5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7. Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.
10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteous' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
11. Blessed you are when others shall revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets which were before you.
Cave 4 - 4QBeat - fragment
Blessed are those who hold to her (wisdom's) precepts and do not hold to the ways of iniquity.
Blessed are those who rejoice in her, and do not burst forth in ways of folly.
Blessed are those who seek her with pure hands and do not pursue her with a treacherous heart.
Blessed is the man who has pertained Wisdom and walks in the Law of the Most High.
MY THOUGHTS (Keith Hunt)
We must remember that at the time of Christ the Jews had differing sects; we know from the Gospels and Jewish history, there were the Pharisees and scribes and the Sadducees. Who did not agree theologically with each other. We know from Jewish history there were the Essenes, who also in some ways did not agree theologically with either the Sadducees or Pharisees.
There was also the Samaritans - another Jewish sect, as proved from history and a full in-depth article is devoted to them in the Jewish Encyclopedia. They did not agree theologically with any of the other four groups I mentioned.
The above five groups existed at the time of Christ. The Essenes were not that far from Jerusalem. It would only be common sense to know that the Essenes knew of John the Baptist and his teachings. Also they would have known of Jesus and his teachings. Christ would have known of them and their basic teachings. It is common sense to realize all five groups and Jesus had SOME teachings in common, just as nearly all Christian sects today have SOME things in common, which they all agree on.
Jesus never had anything to do with the sect of the Essenes. They did not sit in Moses' seat (Mat.23:1-3). He did not recognize them as being important or even as a viable part of Judaism per se. He never taught his disciples to pull away from the world or society and go off and live by themselves in some secluded place. The New Testament is from teaching and examples as opposite from that idea as night is from day.
It is more than likely that the Essenes heard of some of the teachings of Christ and fully agreed. It is then very likely they also wrote in their scrolls the same kinds of teachings
It is also very obvious that the Essenes did NOT think of Jesus as the Messiah to come, hence it is logical that God the Father never called the Essenes as a group to the New Testament Church of God. Maybe individuals were, but if so there is no specific mention of any being so called from the religion of the Essenes to the Church of Jesus Christ.
The New Testament, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, never mention the Essenes - not even once, or any group of religious Jews living by the Dead Sea.
It may be interesting as such to know about what we have covered in this series on the Dead Sea Scrolls, but the bottom line is ...... THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS ARE OF NO IMPORTANCE TO THE CHRISTIAN!!
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NEXT AND LAST FOR INTEREST SAKE, WE SHALL COVER THE END TIMES AND THE COMING OF A MESSIAH IN THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS, AND A SUMMARY FROM JOHN DeSALVO AND HIS RECENT BOOK "DEAD SEA SCROLLS - Their History and Myths Revcaled."
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