What the New Testament Teaches about Israel

1. According to prophecy the Messiah would come from the city of Bethlehem in the tribe of
Judah in the nation of Israel.


Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes
of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

2. Joseph and Mary were commanded by the angel to take the baby Jesus and return to Israel
from Egypt to which they had fled to protect Christ from the sword of Herod.


Matthew 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the
land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

3. In gospel obedience Joseph and Mary returned to Israel from exile in Egypt.


Matthew 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the
land of Israel.

4. It was the observation of the Lord that the faith found in the heart of a Gentile was greater
than any current faith found in the heart of an Israelite.


Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.


Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and
said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no,
not in Israel.

5. The miracles Jesus performed were of such a nature that the people said such works had
never been done in Israel.


Matthew 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes
marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

6. The Twelve Apostles were initially sent to preach the gospel to Israelites alone.


Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7. It was the intention of the Lord to send His disciples on a rapid preaching tour that would
announce His coming.


Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I
say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
8. Christ was sent primarily but not exclusively to preach to Israel.

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

9. The miracles Jesus preformed were designed to vindicate His authority and to induce
worship of God.


Matthew 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak,
the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the
God of Israel.

10. The Twelve Disciples were promised an honorary place in glory. As part of the Church they
would sit in judgment upon the nation of Israel. What is promised to the Apostles is promised
to all the saints in the Revelation.


Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

11. While the betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver was predicted by Jeremiah the prophet, so
it was predicted that He would be valued among the children of Israel, and He was.


Matthew 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of
the children of Israel did value;

12. Unbelieving Israelites mocked Christ while He was on the Cross. Jesus was tempted to prove
He was King of Israel by descending from the place of crucifixion.


Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let
him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.


Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see
and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

13. The greatest of all the commandments given to Israel was to hear and believe that there is
one God and no others.


Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O
Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

14. The ministry of John the Baptist was designed to bring many souls in Israel to the Savior.
 
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

15. God has been pleased to show special favor and help to Israel on the basis of His mercy.


Luke 1:54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

16. The goodness of God is to be remembered for He has visited His people in Israel. Originally
it was the divine intent that to think of Israel was to think of “His people.” The terms were to
be synonymous. But all that changed with the hardness of the hearts of Jews against the
Messiah so that Paul would write, “Not all Israel is Israel.”


Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his
people,

17. Until the Lord was ready to entrust the ministry to John the Baptist he was hidden from view
in Israel in the dessert. There is a wonderful lesson here of patience for all young ministers
who would hasten to be used of the Lord. In His time opportunity for service will come.


Luke 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the
day of his shewing unto Israel..

18. God has always had a remnant according to the election and principle of grace within
national Israel and indeed within all the nations of the earth.


Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the
same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost
was upon him.

19. Jesus Christ was destined to bring glory to Israel as the covenanted people of God but He
was also to lighten the Gentiles—thus revealing the Divine intent to have a people from all
nations.


Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

20. The life of Christ would be a dividing mark for mankind in general and for Jewish
individuals in particular.


Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is
set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken
against;

21. Jesus taught the doctrine of election to the Israelites of His generation from the life of Elijah.
 
Luke 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when
the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all
the land;


Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of
them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

22. Many Jews were discouraged after the death of Christ because they did not know He had
risen from the dead.


Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and
beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

23. Though he was the cousin of Christ, John the Baptist did not know that Jesus was the
promised Messiah.


John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore
am I come baptizing with water.

24. Nathanael recognized the royal reign of Christ over His people.


John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou
art the King of Israel.

25. Nicodemus was a master teacher of the Law of Moses in Israel and yet he did not know the
spiritual realities of the Scriptures.


John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest
not these things?

26. Many Israelites were ready to receive Christ as a carnal king but not as the Righteous One of
the Nation.


John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna:
Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

27. Following the resurrection of Christ it is possible that the disciples did not fully comprehend
the spiritual dynamics of the kingdom that the Lord came to establish until after the Day of
Pentecost.


Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt
thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

28. According to the will of the Lord and His specific commandment the gospel was first
preached to the nation of Israel.
 
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you,
as ye yourselves also know:

29. The nation of Israel was called upon to repent of their sin and receive Jesus as the Messiah.
While many came to faith most hardened their heart to the point that divine judgment fell
upon the nation in AD 70 at which time they were taken out of the central plan of God.


Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that
same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

30. When the apostles preached to the Hebrews they were careful to redirect the attention of the
people from national privileges to the special person of Jesus Christ.


Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why
marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or
holiness we had made this man to walk?

31. Only by being Spirit filled can the gospel effectively be preached to any group of people
including the Jews.


Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people,
and elders of Israel,

32. The Message the apostles had for the nation of Israel was that they had crucified the Lord of
glory and needed to repent.


Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by
him doth this man stand here before you whole.

33. Relentlessly did the apostle Peter press the fact that the people of Israel had united with the
Gentiles to crucify Christ.


Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both
Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together,

34. The earliest contact of Jewish Christians with Jewish loyalists was one of persecution.


Acts 5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning,
and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council
together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them
brought.

35. If souls are to be saved within national Israel then God must grant the gift of repentance.
 
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to
give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

36. The people of Israel were warned not to hurt the Church.


Acts 5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to
do as touching these men.

37. In his sermon Stephen recounts the life of Moses and the special place God wanted the Jews
to have in His divine plan.


Acts 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren
the children of Israel.

38. As a prophet in Israel Moses foretold the coming of the Messiah.


Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the
Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

39. Because the Israelite Exodus Generation rebelled against the Lord, God gave up to worship
false gods.


Acts 7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is
written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain
beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

40. Despite their rejection of His Son, God still gave the Jews time to repent. In matchless grace
the Lord sent to them Saul of Tarsus.


Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to
bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

41. Peace with God was offered to national Israel through the finished work of Christ at Calvary.
But the people of Palestine did not want peace with God on His terms.


Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

42. With much effort and admist personal suffering Paul sought to preach Christ to the Jews.


Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye
that fear God, give audience.
43. According to sovereign grace God determined to use the people of Israel to promote His
program. And so the Lord did everything necessary to redeem the Israelites from the land of
bondage.


Acts 13:17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people
when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them
out of it.

44. Unto Israel first was Jesus presented as the Saviour of souls.
Acts 13:23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a
Saviour, Jesus:

45. Despite being a chosen people for spiritual privileges the Israelites were still to repent of
their sins and receive the Messiah.


Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to
all the people of Israel.

46. Jews cried out to Jews to reject the message and messengers of the Messiah.


Acts 21:28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every
where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also
into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

47. The hope of Israel was Christ. Apart from Christ the Jews have no hope of being saved, nor
does any other people.

Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:
because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

48. The apostle Paul, led by God the Holy Spirit, teaches that not all Israel is Israel. Only those
who have the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob may be numbered among the elect of God.
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all
Israel, which are of Israel:

49. Within the sphere of Israel there is a remnant that shall be saved according to the principle of
electing grace. The rest shall be lost.


Romans 9:27 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:

50. Israel, by trying to keep the law, became legalistic and not righteous. Not one Pharisee,
Sadducee, or Scribe every attained to the law of righteousness they sought so desperately to
keep.
 
Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained
to the law of righteousness.

51. Knowing that most of His kinsmen according to the flesh would be lost, the heart of Paul was
broken. He longed to see souls saved.


Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might
be saved.

52. For their rejection of the Lord, the Jews were responsible. They were warned that if they did
not keep the Law and obey the Lord would move to provoke them to jealousy by setting
them aside.


Romans 10:19 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.

53. The divine commentary is that Israel is a disobedient people.


Romans 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a
disobedient and gainsaying people.

54. There is a sense in which God has not cast away His people for there is an remnant according
to the election of grace.


Romans 11:2 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,

55. Though national Israel has not obtained the righteousness sought after by keeping the Law,
the elect have obtained the righteousness God demands through faith in Jesus Christ.


Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the
election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

56. National Israel will continued to be blinded until the “fullness of the Gentiles be come in”.
Romans 11:25 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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

57. When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, when all the Gentiles are saved whom has
been appointed to eternal life, then it can be said that all spiritual Israel shall be saved for the
true Israelite is either Jew or Gentile which has the faith of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob.


Romans 11:26 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:
58. The Church of Corinth was instructed to look at the unconverted Jews and learn a spiritual
lesson.


1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices
partakers of the altar?

59. The Law which was given to Israel was glorious even as it administered death.


2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was
glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

60. The nation of Israel could not behold the glory associated with Moses upon his return from
spending time in the presence of the Lord.


2 Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of
Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

61. There term “Israel of God” is applied to the Church in the letter of Paul to the Galatians.


Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and
mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

62. Once the Gentiles were strangers from the covenant blessings associated with national Israel.
Now, through faith in Christ that is no longer the case.
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope,
and without God in the world:
63. Paul lists his special privileges as a Jew to show how meaningless they are in the sight of
God when it comes to the issue of salvation, sanctification, and service.


Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

64. The promise of a New Covenant made with national Israel is directly applied to the Church.


Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:


Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:
and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

65. God has always had a people of faith within the sphere of racial Israel.
 
Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the
children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

66. As national Israel was taught to sin, so those within the Church can also sin and in the same
manner.


Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that
hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

67. The Church is identified as Israel in the book of the Revelation.


Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed
an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.


Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates
twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel:

68. Summary observations.


In the New Testament there is nothing that indicates a future exaltation of the Jews as a
race to world dominance.


The consistent presentation is that national Israel, with all of its privileges, rejected the
Messiah, crucified Him, and continued to resist every gospel call to repentance.


Because of their stubborn refusal to come to Christ the nation was set aside and a new
nation, the Church (1 Pet. 2:9) was raised up.


Today, the Church is the only nation that God is pleased to honor above the nations of the
earth.


In the New Testament we read nothing about a future for national Israel apart from a
remnant being saved.


There is no earthly Israelite throne to be anticipated. There is no earthly land with fixed
boundaries promised to the Jews. There is no clear prophecy of a future re-incarnation of
Moses or Elijah to work miracles or do wonders. There is no thousand-year rule of Christ
from Palestine spoke of. There not one word of hope for the Jews to return to their land
as Jeremiah and Daniel were able to give to a former generation of Israelites.


What is promised to the Jews is the death of their nation and a divine judgment for
having killed the Lord of glory. This was accomplished in AD 70.
 Matt 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our
children.

Luke 21:20-25 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that
the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the
mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are
in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them
that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath
upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the
times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.


The conclusion of the matters is this: Eph 5:25-27 Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.