Israel and The Church

There are two main views regarding the relationship between Israel and the Church. They are Replacement Theology and Dispensationalism. Replacement Theology is defined by Matt Slick posting on the CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) website as "the teaching that the Christian church has replaced national Israel regarding the plan, purpose, and promises of God." In other words, Israel has lost its "chosen people" status and it no longer has any future place in God's redemptive plan. Dispensationalism is defined also by Matt Slick as "an approach to biblical interpretation which states that God uses different means of working with people (Israel and the Church) during different periods of history." In this perspective, God still has a plan for Israel, but Israel and the Church are two separate entities. However, neither of these approaches satisfies the Biblical record completely.

I would like to posit a very different view that I hope will one day pervade the Christian church.

Isaiah 2:1-4 (KJV) 
¹ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
² And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
³ And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

This passage is describing earth at the end of the ages, as seen in a vision by the prophet Isaiah. The nations will be judged and there will no longer be any war. God's temple will be established on Mount Zion and many people will suggest going up to the mountain, to the temple of Israel, to be taught God's ways, so that they would walk in His paths. For surely, the Torah of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem. Any attempt at suggesting this passage should be taken in an allegorical way defies the plain meaning of the text. There is no reason to believe that it means anything except what it flat out says. This passage and so many others in the Bible reflect the same understanding, that Israel will always be God's chosen people. The church has not replaced Israel.

Paul also confirms this in Romans.

Romans 11:1 (KJV)
¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

He also wrote:

Romans 9:6 (KJV)
⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Paul was saying that Israel can really mean two separate entities. The first is that Israel exists as a nation or an ethnicity. However, Paul went on to say that not all Israel (the national or ethnic identity) is Israel (another Israel?).

Romans 11:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Paul spoke here about Gentiles being grafted into Israel. He can't be speaking about national or ethnic Israel because when we are born again, we don't become Jewish first. We stay as Gentiles. Yet, we are grafted into Israel. What Israel? This Israel consists of the believers. Consequently, the Dispensationalists keep Israel and the church as separate groups. Paul's definition of the Israel contradicts this. The believing remnant of Israel and the Gentiles that have been grafted in comprise Paul's second definition of Israel. Basically, if you are a believer in Yeshua, you are a part of Israel.

It is my hope that in time, we will understand that there is only one group of believers and they are called Israel. This is not to say that Israel as a nation or as an ethnicity doesn't have a place in God's plans, but the sharp divide between Israel and the church is equally misguided.   

The Lost Sheep of Israel

Sometimes in reading the Bible, we are confronted with elements that are confusing, a theology that seems to conflict with another theology, and behavior that defies explanation. One such passage is the following:

Matthew 15:21-28 (KJV)
²¹ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
²² And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
²³ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
²⁴ But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
²⁵ Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
²⁶ But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
²⁷ And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 

Aren't we told that Yeshua had come to be the Savior of the world? Yet, in Matthew 15 we are surprised with Yeshua initially turning His back on the needs of a Canaanite woman. He then told her and the disciples that He had only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Finally, after much persistence, Yeshua granted the woman's request and made much ado about her faith.

What are we to think of this account? Let's look a little closer! In verse 21 we see that Yeshua had gone into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, two Gentile cities north of Israel. This very act seems to counter Yeshua's own claim about being sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. What would He be doing in a Gentile area?

Mark 7:24 (KJV)
²⁴ And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. 

Mark's version of this account placed Yeshua not in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, but on the borders of this area. Although this may clarify that Yeshua was not necessarily going into a completely Gentile territory, it seems certain that Yeshua was intending to come into contact with at least this one Gentile woman. She cried out to Him, calling Him the Son of David, and pleaded with Him regarding her daughter that was vexed with a devil (verse 22).

Strangely, Yeshua ignored her (verse 23). The disciples then asked Yeshua to send the woman away because of her crying out after them. In response, Yeshua informed both the woman and His disciples that He had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (verse 24). The woman persisted, worshipped Him, and made her request again (verse 25). Yeshua then relegated this woman to an inferior position by calling those of Israel, the children, while she and the Gentiles collectively, were referred to as dogs (verse 26). She persisted again, not by disagreeing with Yeshua, but by wisdom noted that the dogs ate the crumbs from the masters' table (verse 27). At that point, Yeshua exclaimed that the woman's faith was great and that He would heal her daughter (verse 28).

Even from this account, we see hints of God's future ministry that would include Gentiles.

Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

But what can we make of Yeshua's behavior towards the woman? He intentionally went into that particular area, treated the woman very harshly, and yet, healed her daughter. The only conclusion possible is that this whole incident was a setup, a test of faith for this Canaanite woman. Obviously, she passed the test, she demonstrated her faith and received what she requested. 

It makes sense that Yeshua needed to ground His ministry in Judaism before the Gentiles completely overran it. Today we have a situation where Christians and Jews are viewed as belonging to separate religions. But, if Yeshua had not primarily been sent to the lost sheep of Israel, would we Gentiles have held to the Old Testament at all? Would we even recognize that Christianity came out of Judaism? Would there be any Judeo-Christian understanding of morals and values? Probably not!

However, this account of the Canaanite woman and Yeshua's dealings with other Gentiles emphasize the faith that these Gentiles had. Why did Yeshua go out of His way to connect with these Gentiles at this point of His ministry?

Romans 11:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 

Paul tells us in Romans that Gentiles are grafted into Israel by grace through faith. Yeshua knew this Canaanite woman "hidden" in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, was one of His. He went to find her. She was one of the lost sheep of Israel.

This passage of Matthew emphasizes that sometimes our confusions are due to our not completely understanding all sides of an issue. Definitely, the Bible is complex, but Yeshua's only being sent to the lost sheep of Israel was by no means an exclusion of Gentiles. Not only would the ministry expand to Gentiles, but any and all Gentiles that wanted to follow Yeshua were allowed!

The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field

Our next parable is this:

Matthew 13:44 (KJV)
⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Most of the commentators see this parable as an exhortation for Christians to give everything in order to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven, or Yeshua, or salvation, depending upon what they believe the treasure symbolizes.

However, if we continue to keep elements (symbols) consistent throughout the parables, the meaning of the Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field becomes very different.

Yeshua already defined two of the symbols in this parable. He said that the "man" or the main male character in the parables refers to Himself/God. He also defined the "field" as the world. So the only missing element is the treasure itself. Since Yeshua did not give us any information about what the treasure symbolized, we need to look elsewhere for the answer. It would seem that the Bible has all kinds of references to treasure.

Exodus 19:5 (KJV)
⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Psalm 135:4 (KJV)
⁴ For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Plainly, God has viewed Israel as His very special treasure. But do we see the same thing in the New Testament?

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Most would say that 1 Peter is talking about Christians. However, this Bible verse is a quote from the Old Testament.

Exodus 19:6 (KJV)
⁶ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

How is it possible that Christians and Israel are described using the same terminology? Theologians of all stripes have weighed in on this matter. Without going into the differences between Replacement Theology and Dispensationalism, let me suggest that there is a better answer. Since the same terminology is used, both entities, in some form, are identical. From Paul we see that being ethnic Israel does not guarantee that you are really "Israel."

Romans 9:6 (KJV)
⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

At the same time, there are many Gentiles who have been grafted into Israel when they became believers.

Romans 11:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Therefore, the treasure that Yeshua was teaching about is His people, the believers, either Jew or Gentile.

Now let's examine the parable more closely. God's people are hidden in the world. Isn't this exactly what we see regarding both the Jews and Gentile believers, who have been scattered throughout our world. When God "finds" His people, He hides them again, and then, with joy, sells everything that He has, and then buys the world with His people in it.

So how did Yeshua give up all that He had?

Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

But why did Yeshua have to buy the world? Doesn't the world already belong to Him?

It does, but when Adam and Eve sinned our world was marred and Satan was given a certain amount of control and influence over it.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)
⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Yeshua then bought the world by doing what?

Philippians 2:8 (KJV)
⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

This one verse parable basically gives us the entire Gospel message! Yeshua was willing to leave Heaven, come to earth as a man, and then die, in order to buy mankind the opportunity to be saved. This should fill our hearts with gratitude! Amazing!  

Messengers of Peace

Last week's Torah portion comes from Genesis 32:3 - 36:43.

Genesis 32:3 (KJV)
³ And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

When Jacob returned to the land of Canaan, he knew that his brother Esau was likely still angry with him over his deception of their father that resulted in Esau's loss of the blessing of the first born. In fact, Esau had threatened to kill him at one point! What better way to pave the way to peace by sending a gift to Esau!

Yet, what was Esau's response?

Genesis 32:6 (KJV)
⁶ And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

It looked like Jacob had reason to be afraid! But when they actually met, it appeared that Esau's anger had been assuaged.

Genesis 33:8-9 (KJV)
⁸ And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
⁹ And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

But Jacob was still not sure of his brother. When Esau offered to lead Jacob to his destination, Jacob responded with this:

Genesis 33:13-14 (KJV)
¹³ And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
¹⁴ Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

Jacob then went in a different direction and not towards Seir.

Genesis 33:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

This account of Jacob and Esau is the beginning of animosity between the children of Israel and the descendants of Esau. In the book of Obadiah (our week's reading from the prophets) that animosity is reviewed. However, God's response condemns the descendants of Esau.

Obadiah 1:10-13 (KJV)
¹⁰ For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
¹¹ In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
¹² But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
¹³ Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Today, this spirit of Esau continues! Much of the world, even parts of Christianity, are standing against Israel. But God has proclaimed the demise of those with the spirit of Esau.

Obadiah 1:17-18 (KJV)
¹⁷ But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
¹⁸ And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 63:1-4 (KJV)
¹ Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
² Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
³ I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
⁴ For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

Revelation 19:11-16 (KJV)
¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

How often has Israel sent messengers of peace, only to be met by violence? For those nations, government leaders, and church denominations and leaders that promote the spirit of Esau, these passages are warnings! To be on God's side is to be on Israel's side!

The Difference Between the Old and New Covenants

I don't believe that I would get any arguments from other believers if I said that Christians today are a part of the New Covenant. However, there are many misunderstandings about this covenant that have caused many wrong assumptions and wrong theologies. Let's look into this issue a little more closely.

Where in the Bible do we learn about the New Covenant? We can read the entire New Testament and not find the details of this New Covenant. In order to "find" it, we must look back to the Old Testament. We can find it in the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NIV)
³¹ "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
³² It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
³³ "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
³⁴ No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

With whom does God make this Covenant? Verse 31 tells us that the New Covenant is made between God and the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Clearly, the New Covenant is not made between God and any entity we would recognize today as the Church. Isn't this surprising, considering what we've been taught? Our theology has been wrong. If we are not a part of Israel there is no covenant.

Verse 32 tells us that the New Covenant will not be like the Old Covenant. No surprises there!

What is different about the New Covenant compared to the Old? Verse 33 explains that in the New Covenant, God's Law will be put in believers' minds and will be written on their hearts. This also is not surprising. However, what Law are we talking about? Since Jeremiah is a part of the Old Testament there can only be one conclusion. There was only one Law of God in existence. It is called the Torah. The Torah of God will be in believers' minds and hearts. Our theology has been wrong.

When does the New Covenant begin? Traditional Christianity says that the New Covenant began when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers at Pentecost. Although it is true that from that time on believers were indwelt by the Holy Spirit and they are able to refrain from sin, verse 34 doesn't sound like anything we are experiencing today. "All will know Yehovah!" Also, in verse 31, both houses of Israel are mentioned, but in verse 33 they are mentioned together as the house of Israel. The New Covenant will not be fully evident until a time future when Israel's two houses are again one, and all Israel will know God!

Traditional Christianity has a long history of distancing itself from Jewishness. Yet, the plain reading of the Bible indicates that God's people are called Israel and it is with her that the New Covenant is made. If you are a believer who has been born again and has the Spirit of God living within, you are a part of Israel. You are a part of the New Covenant. However, if the only difference between the Old and the New Covenant is the location of God's Torah, we believers in Yeshua must embrace that Torah and not make excuses as to why we don't have to obey it. Jeremiah's description makes no mention of a change in the requirements of following the Torah, so let's just do it!

Do Not Add or Subtract!

Deuteronomy 4:2 (KJV)
² Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 (KJV)
³² What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Proverbs 30:6 (KJV)
⁶ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV)
¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The Bible contains several warnings against adding to or subtracting from the Words of God. Yet every time a pastor, teacher, theologian, or others teach that we no longer have to observe the Torah, they are adding to and subtracting from the Word of God.

What reasons could there be to negate the above verses? Some claim that God, Himself, has changed the Word. However, God must hold Himself to the same standard or He is a liar and we would never be able to count on His Word as truth. Some say that the verses are time related. In essence they teach that we aren't to change any wording in the Torah, but it doesn't mean that the rules after the Torah can't change. This makes sense to them since there were books of the Bible written after the Torah. But this logic destroys the context of the warnings. The words themselves, or the time when the warnings were written are not as important as what they simply are telling us. We are not to add to or subtract from the instructions of God. If your theology teaches that the New Testament ends the Old Testament's requirements your theology has misunderstood the New Testament and is adding to and subtracting from the Bible.

This means that whatever God has commanded cannot change. We find this truth stated in another way in the following verses.

Genesis 13:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Israel has been granted their land forever.

Exodus 12:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Passover is to be observed forever by the children of God.

Leviticus 23:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

The feast of First Fruits is to be observed forever by the children of God.

And many more!!!

If we claim to be believers in Yeshua we cannot pick and choose from the Bible. If we do we are violating the warnings of Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Revelation. We are adding to and subtracting from the very Word of God.    

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV)
¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

In reading Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, the topics discussed seem to be somewhat random. Right after the Beatitudes there is a paragraph on how believers are to be salt and light to the world. Then after that the topic switches to Yeshua's discussion of His fulfillment of the Torah. These seemingly unrelated ideas are then difficult to study in any kind of cohesive manner.

However, in further review, I found that Matthew's choice of topics did in fact demonstrate a systematized arrangement. I also found that there was more to salt and light than what is normally taught.

The Beatitudes convey attitudes like meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity, and peacefulness, that should be cultivated in our walk with the Lord. But more importantly, they speak about how this fallen world's less than desirable conditions will be righted in the Millennial Kingdom. The poor in spirit will receive the Kingdom of Heaven, the mourners will be comforted, and those that hunger after righteousness will be filled.

While believers wait for the coming Kingdom of God and Yeshua's righteous rule, we are to be salt and light. Salt is a preservative. It heals and cleans. In like manner believers are to read the Word of God, grow in the Word, pray, spread the good news of the Gospel of Yeshua, and stand for Biblical principles. We are to be light by shining forth our good works, to reach the lost, and to show the path to salvation.

But why did Yeshua use two examples? Is there a difference between being salt and being light? I found a clue in Isaiah 49.

Isaiah 49:6 (KJV)
⁶ And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Isaiah spoke about raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the preserved of Israel. Paul, likewise, in Romans 11 mentioned the remnant of Israel and her future salvation.

Romans 11:5 (KJV)
⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 11:26 (KJV)
²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Paul even spoke about the kernel of truth and understanding that the Jews have, which the Gentiles do not.

Romans 9:4 (KJV)
⁴ Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

The Jews need preservation. Believers are to be salt to the Jews.

On the other hand, Gentiles don't have the foundation that the Jews have. They are the ones that need the light of which Isaiah was referring. Believers are to be light to the Gentiles.

In truth, Matthew 5:13-16 is an introduction to the believers' dual purpose of being salt and light.. This then serves as an introduction to the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, how believers are to fulfill that dual purpose. There was method to Matthew's apparent random topics after all!

God Isn't Done With Israel!

There is a large part of the church that believes that God is finished with Israel. After all, the Jews failed to uphold the covenant, right? They practiced idolatry and God punished them by exile. When Yeshua came, they failed to recognize Him as Messiah. Now the blessings that were reserved for Israel passed on to the church, right?

WRONG!

In our haftarah portion for this week (Isaiah 40:1-26), God said:

Isaiah 40:1-2 (KJV)
¹ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
² Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

Although Israel had received double for all her sins, she was to be comforted, her warfare would be ended, and her iniquity would be pardoned.

Isaiah 40:9-11 (KJV)
⁹ O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
¹⁰ Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This promise given to Israel speaks about God's return and His Kingdom. She (Israel) was not to be afraid, for He would come with a strong hand and His arm would rule. He would feed His flock like a shepherd, He would gather the lambs and carry them, and He would gently lead those with young.

This passage is very reminiscent of John 10:14 where Yeshua claims that He is the good shepherd.

John 10:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Believers have correctly claimed Yeshua as their shepherd, but Isaiah clearly shows this promise was for Zion. How can both be true? Verse 16 indicates that the original fold must be Israel, but there is another fold that would also be brought in. This second fold is made up of Gentile believers. Yeshua said that the two folds would become one and that He was the one shepherd.

If most of the church believes that Israel has no further place in God's promises, what hope does the church have? Not only has Israel been guilty of idolatry, but the church has as well. If God can remove Israel from His promises, He can also remove the church!

The idea that God is finished with Israel is not Biblical, nor is the idea that God's promises to Israel now belong to the church. Praise God, we Gentiles can be gathered into the sheepfold of Israel and all those who believe in Messiah Yeshua can stand on God's promises! They will not fail!

Romans 15:8-12 - Yeshua's Ministry to the Jews

At this point Paul began to discuss the two reasons why Yeshua came as a minister to the Jews.

Romans 15:8-12 (KJV)
⁸ Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
⁹ And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
¹⁰ And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
¹¹ And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
¹² And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Messiah Yeshua ministered to the Jews (the circumcision) on behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises that had been made to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (verse 8).

Genesis 12:1-2 (KJV)
¹ Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Yeshua, Himself, spoke plainly that He had come to minister to the Jews.

Matthew 15:24 (KJV)
²⁴ But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

However, Yeshua had not come only for the confirmation to the Jews that God would fulfill His promises, but He also came so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy (verses 9-11). Paul then quoted from the Old Testament.

2 Samuel 22:50 (KJV)
⁵⁰ Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

Deuteronomy 32:43 (KJV)
⁴³ Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Psalm 117:1 (KJV)
¹ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

Then Paul quoted from Isaiah regarding the inclusion of Gentiles into the Kingdom of God (verse 12).

Isaiah 11:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

The root of Jesse is Messiah Yeshua, who descended from David, the son of Jesse. The Gentiles would also be under the kingship of Messiah and they would trust in Him.

God's people are collectively called Israel, but throughout history, those who believed in Messiah, whether Jew or Gentile, were allowed entrance into that body. Although both Jews and Gentiles can belong, there is only one body, one Messiah, and one Law (instruction) for all.

Romans 11:33-36 - God's Wisdom and Knowledge

Paul had last summed up his discussion on the salvation of the Jews by saying that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God was not done with the Jewish people!

Romans 11:33-36 (KJV)
³³ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
³⁵ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
³⁶ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Paul then nearly burst into a song of praise! He ended his thought about the Jewish people by praising God. In verse 33 he declared that the wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and ways of God are richly deep and are far beyond the understanding of man. For what human can know the mind of God, or be His counsellor (verse 34)?

Isaiah 40:13 (KJV)
¹³ Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

What human could have first given anything to God and then expect anything back in the way of a debt (verse 35)?

Job 41:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

For all things that man has received has come from God, or through God, and all belong to Him (verse 36). May God be glorified forever! Amen!

God's plan of salvation came from His ultimate wisdom. Gentile believers lovingly are grafted into His family, while His chosen people, Israel, have not been forgotten. They will be grafted back in! Hallelu-yah!

Romans 11:27-32 - Irrevocable!

Paul had finally come to the climax of his discussion regarding the Jews in chapters 9-11. "All Israel will be saved."

Romans 11:27-32 (KJV)
²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
³⁰ For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Verse 27 continues the thought of verse 26. God, from the beginning, has been a covenant maker. His covenant people, Israel, shall again one day, as a nation, turn to Messiah Yeshua, when God will then take away their sins.
Yet, at the time of Paul's writing and on into today, the Jews (most of them) are enemies concerning the Gospel (verse 28). This situation was for the Gentile believers' sakes. However, the Jews are still God's beloved chosen people. They are beloved because of the patriarch's sakes. God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God would keep His word and fulfill those promises. They had been promised a land and a nation. According to verse 29 the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In other words, His gifts and calling are irrevocable! God's honor is at stake. He cannot change what He promised. These gifts and calling for Israel cannot be changed, or God would not be trustworthy. He will do what He says.

Paul then related again historically, how the Gentiles had not believed in God (verse 30), but by the unbelief of the Jews, Gentiles have obtained mercy from God and have been saved. In the same way, by grace through faith, the Jews will once again obtain mercy and be saved (verse 31).

For both the Jews and the Gentiles have been in rebellion toward God (verse 32). By God's amazing grace He will show mercy on both groups!

Romans 11:22-26 - The Salvation of All Israel

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The olive tree represents Israel. In Paul's discussion, the natural branches were the Jews. Some of these were "cut off" because of unbelief, and wild olive branches, the believing Gentiles, were grafted into Israel. Paul ended with a warning about pride against the Jews. If God would cut off the unbelieving Jews, the same could happen to the Gentiles if they fell into unbelief.

Romans 11:22-26 (KJV)
²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
²³ And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
²⁴ For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

In verse 22 Paul pointed out the severity of God that came upon the Jews because of unbelief. In contrast, God had been exceedingly good to the believing Gentiles by grafting them in. He urged the Gentile believers to continue in God's goodness, or otherwise, they would also be cut off. Remaining in God's goodness is accomplished by staying in relationship with Him, by continuing in faith. The alternative is to be cut off just as the unbelieving Jews had been.

But Paul didn't end there. Again he declared hope for the Jews (verse 23). If they didn't continue in unbelief, they too, would be grafted back into the olive tree.

For if the Gentiles, who believed, could be grafted into the olive tree, even though this was not their native tree, how much more easily could the cut off branches be grafted back into their own tree (verse 24)?

In verse 25 Paul spoke about not wanting his fellow believers to be ignorant of God's plan, because without understanding they might be conceited. Although Paul stated very clearly that a blindness had happened to the Jews and that it would continue until the fullness of the Gentiles had come into the Kingdom of God, Christians today act extremely conceited in their belief and the unbelief of many of the Jews. Simply put, God is not finished with the Jews! It would appear that the blindness that came on the Jews also has affected much of Christianity. Although there is belief, there has been much shunning of the Jews and Israel. Christians don't really seem to realize that they have been grafted into a very Jewish olive tree.

However, the blindness is not complete. Jews have come and are coming to faith in Messiah Yeshua. In the same way, Gentiles, for centuries, have been coming to faith. The blindness is going away! Eventually, as the full number (or more likely, the full quality or kind) of Gentiles comes into the Kingdom, all Israel will be saved (verse 26)!

Paul then quoted from Isaiah.

Isaiah 59:20 (KJV)
²⁰ And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

One day, the nation of Israel will recognize Yeshua, accept Him as Messiah, and turn from transgression. This is the outcome of Paul's discussion that began with his concern over his fellow Jews. How this must have comforted him!

Romans 11:16-18 - Natural and Wild Branches

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Paul continued his discussion of the salvation of the Jews.

Romans 11:16-21 (KJV)
¹⁶ For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
¹⁸ Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Paul began this section of Romans by alluding to Numbers (verse 16).

Numbers 15:20-21 (KJV)
²⁰ Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
²¹ Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.

If the first fruit of the dough, the cake, is holy then the entire lump of dough is holy. In the same way, if the root is holy, then so are the branches. What was Paul specifically referring to? Who or what is the root? Who or what are the branches? Let's deal with the second question first.

Paul informed us that some of the branches had been broken off and some wild olive branches had been grafted in (verse 17). These grafted in branches took hold and received nourishment from the root of the olive tree. Paul clearly indicated that the wild olive branches that were grafted in were Gentile believers. Unbelieving Jews must be the natural branches that were broken off.

In verse 18 Paul warned the Gentile believers not to boast against the branches (the Jews). The Gentile believers did not support the root, but the root supported the Gentile believers.

In verse 19 Paul imagined what a Gentile believer might boast about. "The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in!" Paul then explained that the branches were indeed broken off because of unbelief, while the Gentile believer is grafted in because of faith (verse 20). However, the Gentile believer should not be full of pride, but should fear, because if God didn't spare the natural branches (the Jews), He might not spare the Gentiles either, if they are found in unbelief (verse 21).

So, the natural branches are the Jews, the natural branches that are broken off are the unbelieving Jews, and the wild olive branches are the believing Gentiles. Who or what is the root? The root is holy according to verse 16. It provides nourishment for the branches (verse 17). Beyond this Romans doesn't necessarily define the root. However, traditionally, the olive tree itself has been viewed as a symbol of Israel. Paul's use of the branches as Jews was consistent with this well-known symbol. The root therefore could refer to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), Israel, or Yeshua, as many have postulated. In any case, Paul depicted the root as being a Jewish entity. Believing Gentiles are grafted into Israel, the olive tree.

Lastly, let's consider Paul's warning about not boasting against the Jews. Not only historically do we find that the church has treated the Jews horribly, but attitudes today throughout Christianity towards the Jews are less than stellar. Even in situations where Jews aren't ill treated, Christians act like Jews need to be grafted into the church, rather than the other way around. Christians snub their noses at all things Jewish and ignore Torah. But if the Jews were cut off because they strayed from God in unbelief as demonstrated by disobedience, we Gentiles cannot afford to boast against the Jews, or our pride will show that we have strayed into unbelief through disobedience, and will be cut off, as well. This definitely was Paul's wake up call!

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Romans 11:13-15 - Jewish Nation Reconciled to God

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It is the Gentiles' obligation to provoke Israel to jealousy. Paul spoke more on this.

Romans 11:13-15 (KJV)
¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
¹⁴ If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
¹⁵ For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

In verse 13 Paul stated that while he was speaking to Gentiles, because he was the apostle of the Gentiles, his work was visible and open to the Jews. By teaching and preaching to the Gentiles he believed that he would provoke the Jews to emulate the believers and some might then be saved (verse 14).

Paul then reiterated that if the Jews' temporary rejection of Messiah meant reconciliation between the world (Gentiles) and God, how much more would be accomplished by the Jews receiving Messiah in faith? Ultimately, it would mean the salvation of the Jews, not only individually, but nationally, as well.

Stay tuned for more!

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Romans 11:11-12 - Provoked to Jealousy

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Many of the Jews, Paul said, were blinded, and did not accept Messiah. Yet there was hope!

Romans 11:11-12 (KJV)
¹¹ I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
¹² Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Paul again asked a leading question in verse 11. Have the Jews stumbled, so that they have fallen away permanently? Paul answered negatively, "God forbid!" Instead, because of the Jews' stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Then as Gentiles come to faith in Messiah, the Jews will be provoked to jealousy.

Gentiles in great numbers have come to faith and salvation because the Jews stumbled over Messiah Yeshua. This is a profound blessing that has been extended to them. Yet, how has the Christian church often treated the Jews? What crimes against the Jews have been committed in the name of Christianity? Why does antisemitism reign in many so called "Christian" lands? Obviously, Christians have acted like God has thrown away the Jews and has made the Church the new chosen people. This is not to say that all Gentile Christians behave in this manner, but the number of incidents has caused a distrust of Christians on the part of many Jews. This has not caused the Jews to be jealous of Christianity.

In a way, provoking the Jews to jealousy is a command for Gentile Christians. This seems to be God's way of bringing the Jews to faith, but up to now the Gentiles have failed to a large degree. How can this be accomplished? If Christians were to act with love and to follow the high moral standards of God's Word, many Jews would perhaps think twice and embrace Messiah Yeshua. However, from the Jews' perspective, Christianity is a separate religion from Judaism. Christians worship three gods, violate the Torah by eating non-foods, and celebrate pagan holidays, while ignoring God-given feasts. They worship a false prophet called Jesus who has instructed them to turn away from God. With all of these elements in play, the Jews are unlikely to come to faith in great numbers. Obviously, there is some misunderstanding on the part of the Jews, however, it is true that Christianity doesn't look much like what is described in the Torah, nor does it resemble the first century church. This needs to change. The only way that Gentiles can provoke the Jews to jealousy is to live out faith and salvation by following God's Torah in total, putting aside Gentile tradition, and embracing a life that outshines the Jews' observance. Once they see Gentiles living according to God's Word, they will be jealous.

Paul then stated that if the fall or stumbling and the diminishing of the Jews resulted in riches for the rest of the world, how much more will be accomplished by the Jews coming back on track in faith in Messiah (verse 12)?

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Romans 11:7-10 - Blindness

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There will always be a Jewish remnant of true believers! Paul continued.

Romans 11:7-10 (KJV)
⁷ What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
⁸ (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
⁹ And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

According to verse 7 Israel had not wholly obtained the righteousness that she sought. The elect of God (the remnant) had obtained it, but the rest were blinded.

This blindness, according to Moses in the Torah, Isaiah in the Prophets, and David in the Writings (Psalms), came from God, like a spirit of slumber (ex. Isaiah 29:10). Most of the Jews could not see, nor could they hear (David H. Stern. Jewish New Testament Commentary, Jewish New Testament Publications, Clarksville, MD, 1992. p. 405). However, it must be remembered from earlier discussion, that God never blinds the eyes of those who would be willing to respond to Him.

Verses 9 and 10 are quotes from Psalm 69:22-23.

Psalm 69:22,23 (KJV)
²² Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
²³ Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

Paul used these verses to demonstrate the results of the blindness. Although the Jews had everything they needed for understanding, a virtual feast of truth, it became a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a recompense to those who disbelieved. Their eyes were darkened, and they remained slaves to sin (bowing down their backs is a picture of slavery).

Thankfully, Paul didn't end there. Romans continues with a message of hope! Stay tuned.

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Romans 11:1-6 A Remnant

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Paul said that God was not at fault for the Jews not believing in Messiah. He ended by calling them a disobedient and obstinate people. It was their own fault. Yet, before we begin to think that Gentiles are some how better (they aren't), Paul continued to teach on God's plan for the Jews.

Romans 11:1-6 (KJV)
¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
² God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
³ Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
⁴ But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

In verse 1 Paul again used a leading question to shape his argument. "Has God cast away his people?" Paul answered negatively, "God forbid!" Paul then used himself as an example of how God had not cast the Jews aside. Paul was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God had not cast away the Jewish people which He had foreknown (verse 2). Paul then used Elijah as his second example. After Elijah had confronted the prophets of Baal, he fled and complained that he alone was left of all the prophets of God (verse 3). Yet, this was not true (verse 4). God had reserved seven thousand men who had not turned to Baal. God had preserved a remnant.

In verse 5 Paul affirmed that during his own day, there was still a Jewish remnant of believers in Messiah, that were saved by grace.

While much of Christianity today has also decided that God is through with Israel (Replacement Theology) and that the Church has replaced her, Paul's words and examples show that there will always be a remnant of Jews that responds to God's call. There will be more as chapter 11 continues.

Then in verse 6 Paul returned to one of his major arguments, that since the Jews' salvation was by grace, it was not of works, otherwise grace would not be grace, but payment of a debt. And if salvation came by works, it was not of grace. Then works would not be the loving and thankful result of salvation, but the striving for something that was unattainable. Again, Paul stressed that, as always, salvation came by grace!

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Romans 10:18-21 - A Disobedient and Obstinate People

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Paul stated that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Next, he returned again to his leading question, "Isn't it God's fault that most of the Jews don't believe in Messiah?"

Romans 10:18-21 (KJV)
¹⁸ But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
¹⁹ But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
²⁰ But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
²¹ But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

In verse 18 Paul asked, "Haven't the Jews heard the message about Messiah?" He answered a resounding, "Yes." He then quoted a part of Psalms 19.

Psalm 19:1-4 (KJV)
¹ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
² Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
³ There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Paul focused on his earlier argument (Rom. 1:19-20) about creation and how it declared that there is a God. Just as he had said before, no one could claim ignorance about God. Considering that the Jews had the Torah, they especially could not claim ignorance.

Paul asked another leading question, "Didn't the Jews understand (verse 19)?" Although many didn't, Paul again left them no room for not understanding. He quoted Deuteronomy 32:21.

Deuteronomy 32:21 (KJV)
²¹ They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Because of the Word of God the Jews should have understood. Moses had even foretold what was going to happen. Because Israel had provoked God to jealousy, the Jews would also be provoked to jealousy by "them that are no people." God would also allow them to be angered by a "foolish" nation (probably a parallel phrase meaning the same group of people) because they had provoked Him to anger by the "work of their hands" (idolatry).

Deuteronomy 31:29 (KJV)
²⁹ For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

In verses 20 and 21 Paul quoted Isaiah.

Isaiah 65:1,2 (KJV)
¹ I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
² I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

The instrument of the Jews provocation would be the Gentiles. If the Gentiles were able to find Messiah, when they hadn't even sought for God, then the Jews had no excuse. Rather, God had continually stretched forth His hands to the Jews who were a disobedient and gainsaying (contradictory) (obstinate) people.

The story of the Jews doesn't end here. Chapter 11 will continue to address their issue. Perhaps a clue can be found at the end of the Deuteronomy passage.

Deuteronomy 32:43 (KJV)
⁴³ Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Stay tuned!

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The Nations vs. Israel

During our Women's Bible, while we were discussing Isaiah 18 and 19, we discussed the judgment of the nations of Ethiopia and Egypt. Clearly, through these chapters we find that God judges Israel's enemies. In fact, this principle can be found throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. One such example is found in Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:31-34 (KJV)
³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

When Yeshua returns to earth He will bring all the holy angels with Him, and He will sit on His throne in Jerusalem (verse 31). At that time all the nations will be gathered to Him and He will separate them into two groups, the sheep and the goats (verse 32). The sheep will be on His right and the goats will be on His left (verse 33). The sheep will be called, "blessed of My Father," and they will enter into the Millennial Kingdom (verse 34).

Matthew 25:40-41 (KJV)
⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

In verse 40 King Yeshua explains that the sheep will be admitted into the kingdom because of the good treatment that they gave to His brethren. Their doing good to others was as if they had done the same to Yeshua, Himself. The goats, on the other hand, had neglected and treated poorly Yeshua's brethren (verses 42-45). The end result is that they are told that they are cursed and they are to depart from Yeshua into everlasting fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels (verse 41).

There are two important elements found in this passage and I'm not talking about the sheep and the goats. Who are being judged? The nations are the ones being judged. What is the criterion for judgment? The criterion is how Yeshua's brethren are treated.

What did Matthew mean by "the nations?" Who are Yeshua's brethren? Thankfully, the book of Joel contains a companion passage that can help us answer these questions.

Joel 3:2,12 (KJV)
² I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
¹² Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

According to verse 2 the nations will be brought down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment. However, in verse 12 it is the heathen that will be judged. The Hebrew word used in both of these places is the word for Gentile. According to Joel, the Gentiles are judged. Verse 2 also specifies who are Yeshua's brethren. They are called Israel.

Together these two passages show that it is the Gentiles who will be judged based on how they treat Israel!

Although these passages seem clear, they raise some further questions. There appears to be only two groups of people, the Gentiles and Israel. What about the church, the true Christian believers, that are for the most part Gentiles? Where do they fit? And what about Jewish unbelievers? Since this is the time of Yeshua's return after the Tribulation, this is the time in which Paul indicated that all Israel would be saved (Romans 11:26). The unbelieving Jews would see Yeshua and recognize Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). As far as the church is concerned, as soon as a Gentile becomes a believer and is born again, he or she is no longer a Gentile (spiritually), but becomes a part of Israel through being grafted in (Romans 11:17).

Christianity seems to seek a severe differentiation between the church and Israel, but this is contradictory to what we see in Scripture. If we want to reap the benefits of Israel, we need, not only to stand with the nation of Israel, but we must begin to see ourselves as a part of Israel. Her history, benefits, and responsibilities (including Torah observance) are ours. After all, when it comes to the judgment of the sheep and the goats, do we really want to be on the side of the Gentiles or do we want to be a part of Yeshua's brethren, Israel?

Romans 9:25-33 - The Stumbling Stone

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Paul's distress over the rejection of Messiah by most of the Jews continues in today's post.

Romans 9:25-33 (KJV)
²⁵ As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
²⁶ And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
²⁷ Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
²⁸ For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
²⁹ And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
³⁰ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
³¹ But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
³² Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
³³ As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

In verse 25 Paul quoted from Hosea.

Hosea 2:23 (KJV)
²³ And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Although Hosea was referring to the Jews, Paul used the verse as a description of the believing Gentiles. They were once not God's people, nor were they beloved, but they will be added to His Kingdom, to Israel.

In verse 26 Paul again turned to Hosea in referring to the believing Gentiles.

Hosea 1:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

These Gentiles were not God's people, but they will now be called the children of the living God.

Next Paul quoted Isaiah in verse 27.

Isaiah 10:22-23 (KJV)
²² For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
²³ For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Here Paul drew attention to the promise that God had given to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that the number of the children of Israel would be as the sand of the sea. Although the Jews believed that this meant that all individual Jews would be saved, only a remnant of them would in actuality be saved. And God would finish the work in righteousness (verse 28).

In verse 29 Paul again quoted Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:9 (KJV)
⁹ Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

In mercy God had decreed that a remnant would be saved. If not for that, the Jews would have been totally destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. Although Paul was referring to the Jews in this passage, he had already discussed at length the guilt of both Jews and Gentiles regarding sin. It is only through God's mercy that anyone is saved.

So the conclusion is that the Gentiles, who hadn't followed after righteousness, found righteousness through faith, but the Jews, who had followed after righteousness, did not find righteousness (verses 30 and 31).

Paul then asked in verse 32, "Why?"  He then answered. The unbelieving Jews had not attained righteousness because they had tried to attain it by works, but righteousness can only be attained through faith in Messiah Yeshua. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. Surely, they thought, their religious traditions and works would save them, not simple faith in Messiah. It was too easy.

Lastly, Paul again quoted from Isaiah.

Isaiah 8:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Although Messiah was a stumbling stone to many of the Jews, those who believed in Him would not be ashamed (verse 33). The believers would be saved.

The Jews had misunderstood. Salvation has always come by faith, but traditions have a way of blinding us to truth. This mistake is not just made by the Jews either. Gentiles also, whether Christian or not, often find faith in Messiah "not enough." We add to the Word of God. We subtract from the Word of God, creating our own religion and traditions. We put them on a pedestal and treat them like they are God's truth, when in fact, they are lies and distractions. If only a remnant of the Jews are saved, there is only a remnant of Gentiles that will be saved as well. This should be a sobering thought for all of us.

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