Gentiles
would even bring their sacrifices to the Temple in
Jerusalem. Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh writes:
In the
Jewish doctrine relating to sacrifices, we find
an implicit statement on the subject of the
Noachides. It is the principle that
sacrifices offered in the Temple by Gentiles
ought to be accepted, whereas those brought by
apostate Israelites must be refused. This
obviously assumes that the mitzvot of the Mosaic
Law are not binding upon Gentiles, for no
special authorization would be needed for a
practice which was not only a right but an
obligation. When a Gentile offers such a
sacrifice, he is observing part of the Law
voluntarily. [Israel and Humanity p.246]
What should have been Noahides
worshipping along side of Jews in synagogues
with the same religious faith (varying in
personal obligations), became a totally new
religion. We know from history that Sunday
observance among the Gentiles was practiced
almost from the beginning, and the belief that a
Gentile SHOULDN'T keep the Sabbath may have been a
contributing factor in this.
Soon
Gentiles were meeting in their homes, and eventually set up
"churches" as places of worship for the new
faith. After the Jews were driven from Jerusalem,
the Gentiles saw this as a sign from God that now
THEY had become the chosen people, and the split
became firm and permanent.
Again,
Rabbi Benamozegh writes:
It is
not surprising that those Jews who, while
believing in Jesus, still did not intend to give
up the Law for him, were alarmed by the
conversion of that mass of pagans who, in their
ever-increasing numbers, threatened to destroy
Mosaism with the rallying cry of the new
Christianity: "The Law is abolished!" [Israel
and Humanity p.244]