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Why the Majority of the Children
of Israel Rejected the Messiah
[ Selected ]



We all know the majority of the children of Isarel rejected Christ and it is believed that they committed a grave error in so doing. Their guilt is possible however, only if Christ fulfilled all that was written concerning Himself in the Old Testament. If He failed to fulfill any particular prophecy spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah, then, the children of Israel were justified in rejecting Him as an imposter. This fact accounts for the constant appeal both Christ and His apostles made to the Old Testament in support of His work and ministry. Due to the fact that the children of Israel had developed a carnal conception of the kingdom of God, they expected the Messiah to conquer all their oppressors and give them a preeminent place in the world with plenty of everything for the enjoyment of human life. When it became apparent that Christ had a very different idea of the Messiahship, the children of Israel first became impatient and then maliciously opposed to Him and sought to slay Him.

At one time, apparently John the Baptist wondered if Jesus were indeed the true Messiah, for we read in Matt. 11:2, 3: "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art thou he that should come or do we look for another?" To this question Jesus replied by quoting Isa. 35:5, 6. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." This was sufficient to convince John that Jesus was the Messiah. So far as the disciples were concerned, the supreme test appeared to have taken place at Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked, "Whom say Ye, that I am?" It was on this memorable occasion that Peter uttered his inspired confession, "Thou art the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the living God." Matt. 16:16.

Man Cannot Defeat God's Eternal Purpose! The disciples, having become convinced of His Person at last, Jesus unfolds the mission He had come to perform. And we read that, "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day." (Matt. 16:21) Although Jesus knew the children of Israel would reject Him, still the events leading to the crucifixion are most tragic. God's foreknowledge does not interfere with man's freedom of choice. God knows the end from the beginning, but He does not will any man's choice. For that reason the children of Israel were responsible for their part in crucifying Christ.

We should bear in mind that the kingdom that Christ came to establish was set up in spite of His rejection by the children of Israel, for His kingdom was founded on God's will and not on their plebiscite. In Luke 10:9-11 we read, "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth to us we do wipe off against you; notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." This shows that their rejection did not prevent the coming of the kingdom of God as proclaimed by Christ.

In Matt. 21:33-46, the parable of the Wicked Husbandman is recorded. The entire passage should be read in this connection. In it, we are told of a householder who planted a vineyard and took a journey to a distant land. During his lengthy absence the husbandman took the servants of the householder and beat them and otherwise mistreated them. When the heir of the vineyard came they took him also and slew him, thinking thereby to obtain possession of the vineyard for themselves. Having stated the parable, Jesus asked those Pharisees what the householder ought to do to the husbandman, and they answered, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men and let the vineyard out to others." Unwittingly they pronounced their own fate. Jesus made it clear that the vineyard He had reference to was the kingdom of God, concerning which He declared, "It shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matt. 21:43) Turning now to Luke 12:32, we read, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." This little flock of believers became the nucleus of the new nation of believers who receive Christ as Saviour and King. The unbelieving children of Israel could not receive the kingdom because of their unbelief and hardness of heart, but the saved remnant of Israel who were born again became heirs of the promises. In other words, the "whosoever will be born again"!

In this connection, we should remember the 23rd chapter of Matthew where Jesus delivered His most scathing address to the Pharisees and Sadducees. In addition to seven "woes," we find this stern judgment, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered they children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate." Vv. 37, 38. These chilling words, spoken on quivering lips and with eyes filled with tears, show how hopelessly the majority of the children of Israel rejected the Messiah and how they reaped and are still reaping the inevitable consequences. [ The End ]




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