The Blindness Of The Jews
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Really? And yet you applied this idea to the apostles and the believing Jews! So it is clear that you are totally confused about this matter.
So let's get back to what we actually find in Scripture (as well as world history).
1. Jesus of Nazareth came to Israel as their Messiah-King and the majority of Jews condemned Him to death. But there was a believing remnant.
2. After His resurrection and after Pentecost many thousands of Jews were converted, and the first church was the church at Jerusalem.
3. At the same time the Jewish religious leaders hated the Christians and persecuted them. One of their persecutors was Saul of Tarsus. But the Romans also persecuted the Christians.
4. After his conversion the apostle Paul traveled throughout the Roman empire, and always went to Jewish synagogues first in order to preach the Gospel. Some Jews were converted, but many refused to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus "blindness in part" came upon Israel.
5. Eventually Paul turned his back on the Jews and focused entirely on the Gentiles. At this point Israel was judicially blinded and the Church became primarily a Gentile Church. The Bible says that (a) there will always be a believing remnant of Israel (called "the elect") and (b) that it is believing Israel that is the "good olive tree" into which Gentiles have been grafted in as branches from "the wild olive tree".
6. Between 70 AD and 1948 AD very few Jews were converted, and there was hatred and animosity towards the Jews throughout Europe. This eventually led to the Holocaust. But the desire for a Jewish homeland was strong in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among European Jews.
7. The Zionist nation-state of Israel was established in 1948, and since then many Jews have heard the Gospel and been converted. And many Jews have gone to Israel to settle there. But Jewry -- by an large -- still rejects Christ, and Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their "true Messiah" (who is not Jesus of Nazareth).
8. The apostle Paul made it clear to Gentile Christians that just because they were saved and the majority of Jews remained unsaved, they must not be high-minded and look down on the Jews. That God was not finished with Israel, and a day would come when "all Israel" would be saved. But this would happen only after the Second Coming of Christ. Yet Replacement Theology became predominant in Christianity, and many Christians began to believe that the Church had replaced Israel.
9. "All Israel" does not mean every Jew, but it does mean every tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel. But first there will be "the time of Jacob's trouble" and after that only one-third of all Jews worldwide will be saved, when they personally see their true Messiah-King. This will only happen after Christ returns to earth.
10. Redeemed and restored Israel (with Jerusalem on earth) will be established by Christ Himself. At that point "all Israel" will indeed by regenerate and saved, and God will dwell among His people. Israel will be the leading nation on earth at that time.
So let's get back to what we actually find in Scripture (as well as world history).
1. Jesus of Nazareth came to Israel as their Messiah-King and the majority of Jews condemned Him to death. But there was a believing remnant.
2. After His resurrection and after Pentecost many thousands of Jews were converted, and the first church was the church at Jerusalem.
3. At the same time the Jewish religious leaders hated the Christians and persecuted them. One of their persecutors was Saul of Tarsus. But the Romans also persecuted the Christians.
4. After his conversion the apostle Paul traveled throughout the Roman empire, and always went to Jewish synagogues first in order to preach the Gospel. Some Jews were converted, but many refused to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus "blindness in part" came upon Israel.
5. Eventually Paul turned his back on the Jews and focused entirely on the Gentiles. At this point Israel was judicially blinded and the Church became primarily a Gentile Church. The Bible says that (a) there will always be a believing remnant of Israel (called "the elect") and (b) that it is believing Israel that is the "good olive tree" into which Gentiles have been grafted in as branches from "the wild olive tree".
6. Between 70 AD and 1948 AD very few Jews were converted, and there was hatred and animosity towards the Jews throughout Europe. This eventually led to the Holocaust. But the desire for a Jewish homeland was strong in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among European Jews.
7. The Zionist nation-state of Israel was established in 1948, and since then many Jews have heard the Gospel and been converted. And many Jews have gone to Israel to settle there. But Jewry -- by an large -- still rejects Christ, and Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their "true Messiah" (who is not Jesus of Nazareth).
8. The apostle Paul made it clear to Gentile Christians that just because they were saved and the majority of Jews remained unsaved, they must not be high-minded and look down on the Jews. That God was not finished with Israel, and a day would come when "all Israel" would be saved. But this would happen only after the Second Coming of Christ. Yet Replacement Theology became predominant in Christianity, and many Christians began to believe that the Church had replaced Israel.
9. "All Israel" does not mean every Jew, but it does mean every tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel. But first there will be "the time of Jacob's trouble" and after that only one-third of all Jews worldwide will be saved, when they personally see their true Messiah-King. This will only happen after Christ returns to earth.
10. Redeemed and restored Israel (with Jerusalem on earth) will be established by Christ Himself. At that point "all Israel" will indeed by regenerate and saved, and God will dwell among His people. Israel will be the leading nation on earth at that time.
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The Jews of Jesus' time on earth were opposed to Jesus because they were 'only human' and subject to human frailties. At the time of Jesus, the Jews (Pharisees, Scribes, Sanhedrin) were the 'Kings of the Hill', the final authority when it came to the Jewish religion. They revelled in theirr power, prestige, position, and wealth afforded to them by the Jewish people. Many of them, like Saul/Paul, had studied Jewish Scripture and traditions and knew them inside out.
And, for sure, these very builders of the 'One God' religion would reject the 'Very Cornerstone', Jesus.
But, rather than it being matters of religion, it was really more a matter of jealousy and fear of losing their status in Jerusalem that scared the Jews of the time. Here was a young upstart, in his 30's, coming out of nowhere. But crowds were flocking to Jesus and believing His teachings.
Jesus performed many miracles but there was one miracle that caused the Jewish powerful to begin planning His death. When people reported that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, the plotting for Jesus' death had begun in earnest. Caiaphas prophicied correctly that this 'One Man' must die for the sake of the nation. But Caiaphas was really talking about Jesus' death to maintain the 'status quo' of Jewish power.
So, looking at the situation, I think it was more of a 'political power' issue/problem than a 'religious belief' issue/problem. The Jews were all too human and weren't about to give up their wealth/status/and seat of authority to this young Jew, Jesus.
And, for sure, these very builders of the 'One God' religion would reject the 'Very Cornerstone', Jesus.
But, rather than it being matters of religion, it was really more a matter of jealousy and fear of losing their status in Jerusalem that scared the Jews of the time. Here was a young upstart, in his 30's, coming out of nowhere. But crowds were flocking to Jesus and believing His teachings.
Jesus performed many miracles but there was one miracle that caused the Jewish powerful to begin planning His death. When people reported that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, the plotting for Jesus' death had begun in earnest. Caiaphas prophicied correctly that this 'One Man' must die for the sake of the nation. But Caiaphas was really talking about Jesus' death to maintain the 'status quo' of Jewish power.
So, looking at the situation, I think it was more of a 'political power' issue/problem than a 'religious belief' issue/problem. The Jews were all too human and weren't about to give up their wealth/status/and seat of authority to this young Jew, Jesus.
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Gods design blinded them through the law , it still blinds many people today because they try to make the law fit with the gospel and it doesn’t the gospel is the culmination of the law and prophets
It’s where the law and prophets led mankind to Jesus and the gospel it blinds minds because they are trying to look through the veil of Moses law and see the gospel rather than looking from the gospel and seeing the law
“Seeing then that we ( the apostles ) have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
2 Corinthians 3:12-15 KJV
to hear God command this is to have a veil over our eyes and ears and never really Know God
adultery
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:10 KJV
pre marital sex
“But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”
Deuteronomy 22:20-21 KJV
picking up a stick on the sabbath day
“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Numbers 15:32-33, 35-36
That is to hear Gods word while having a corrupt d wicked mindset and heart it makes it like a veil of what God is saying To the sinner it’s not I will
Destroy you if you don’t follow
My rules “ it is I’m warning you that if you don’t repent your going to be destroyed by yourself “
the truth of what Gods saying the clarity without the veil of Moses law is what Jesus said in The gospel so rather than Leviticus 20s judgement of adulterers must surely be stoned to death , proven allegations of pre marital sex requires a town stoning of the woman , or picking up a stick on a sabbath day or stoking a fire requires death sentance be carried out by the people
that’s not actually Gods message to us in Christ instead it is this when the veil of Moses word is removed ( note how the dedicated to Moses law Pharisees were still blind to Jesus here )
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.”
John 8:3-13 KJV
and note how it’s not understanding what’s written on Moses law that’s actually causing thier dosbelief
“Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Matthew 19:7-8 KJV
“Moses commanded us a law, Even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.”
Deuteronomy 33:4
moses is the ot mediator of the law we have to go to Jesus our mediator to hear Gods word Jesus commanded us a word also
The difference is stark because the law is for this mknds and heart
“knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV
the law is God speaking to that form of man
the gospel and Jesus word is for his chosen children who he’s making new giving a new holy spirit , new loving and honest heart , people who repent and don’t keep living as those the law is for
“the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane,”
repentance from those ways removes the need to hear God speaking to us as though that’s who we are now and brings righteousness through hearing and believing the truth of Jesus Christ Gods mercy and love expressed in full to mankind
It’s where the law and prophets led mankind to Jesus and the gospel it blinds minds because they are trying to look through the veil of Moses law and see the gospel rather than looking from the gospel and seeing the law
“Seeing then that we ( the apostles ) have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
2 Corinthians 3:12-15 KJV
to hear God command this is to have a veil over our eyes and ears and never really Know God
adultery
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:10 KJV
pre marital sex
“But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”
Deuteronomy 22:20-21 KJV
picking up a stick on the sabbath day
“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Numbers 15:32-33, 35-36
That is to hear Gods word while having a corrupt d wicked mindset and heart it makes it like a veil of what God is saying To the sinner it’s not I will
Destroy you if you don’t follow
My rules “ it is I’m warning you that if you don’t repent your going to be destroyed by yourself “
the truth of what Gods saying the clarity without the veil of Moses law is what Jesus said in The gospel so rather than Leviticus 20s judgement of adulterers must surely be stoned to death , proven allegations of pre marital sex requires a town stoning of the woman , or picking up a stick on a sabbath day or stoking a fire requires death sentance be carried out by the people
that’s not actually Gods message to us in Christ instead it is this when the veil of Moses word is removed ( note how the dedicated to Moses law Pharisees were still blind to Jesus here )
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.”
John 8:3-13 KJV
and note how it’s not understanding what’s written on Moses law that’s actually causing thier dosbelief
“Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Matthew 19:7-8 KJV
“Moses commanded us a law, Even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.”
Deuteronomy 33:4
moses is the ot mediator of the law we have to go to Jesus our mediator to hear Gods word Jesus commanded us a word also
The difference is stark because the law is for this mknds and heart
“knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV
the law is God speaking to that form of man
the gospel and Jesus word is for his chosen children who he’s making new giving a new holy spirit , new loving and honest heart , people who repent and don’t keep living as those the law is for
“the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane,”
repentance from those ways removes the need to hear God speaking to us as though that’s who we are now and brings righteousness through hearing and believing the truth of Jesus Christ Gods mercy and love expressed in full to mankind
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Nonsense. Jesus proved to the Jews daily that He was indeed God manifest in the flesh. So it was not "human frailties" at all. Jesus even told us why people do not believe on Him:
JOHN 3: WILLFUL REJECTION OF CHRIST
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
JOHN 3: WILLFUL REJECTION OF CHRIST
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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It seems the verses you share, especially verse 20, support the views of @arthurfleminger.
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Not at all what I was trying to convey. Were it not for the witnessing of Christians I would probably be a practicing Jew in Judaism now, lost, blinded, and with a heart of stone. Yes, e should witness and testify to those that claim they are real Jews as they are the natural branches and can be regrafted in easier than wild olive branches.
No, Christians should not enforce the original covenant as Jesus is our new covenant and I firmly believe that in doing so, the blindness and heart hardening of the Jews is transferred to them as well. And they will share in the responsibility for their demise because they failed to blow the trumpet signaling warning. I hope that clarifies what I failed to include, or explain properly.
No, Christians should not enforce the original covenant as Jesus is our new covenant and I firmly believe that in doing so, the blindness and heart hardening of the Jews is transferred to them as well. And they will share in the responsibility for their demise because they failed to blow the trumpet signaling warning. I hope that clarifies what I failed to include, or explain properly.
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I was agreeing with you, but trying to demonstrate the folly of those who say "leave the Jews alone, they will be blinded until the end". I know they don't normally say it in those words, but they do by their actions. I say we should offend the Jews, as we should offend any man, because the gospel is offensive to those who are perishing. But by our offense of these hearing the gospel, some may believe and be saved.
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