Romans 15Why Was Jesus sent “ONLY
to the Lost Sheep of the house of Israel”?Lorraine Day, M.D.
“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:6
“But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24
This chapter opens with the exhortation that we are to bear the infirmities of the weak and in verse 7 it says, “Wherefore receive ye one another.”
How are we to receive one another? The answer is, “As Christ also received us.” This again emphasizes the statement that the apostle had not the slightest intention in any way of depreciating any one of the Ten Commandments when in the fourteenth chapter he said: “One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
“Christ did not in the slightest degree make any concessions in the commandments in order to accommodate those whom He would receive. He said, “Think not that I came to destroy (abolish) the law, or the prophets.” Matt 5:17. Again, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10
Christ’s commandments and those of the Father are the same, because He says, “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30. When a young man wished to follow Him, He said to him, “Keep the commandments.” Matt 19:17. Therefore it is evident that in making concessions for the sake of peace and harmony, no concession is to be made in respect to keeping the commandments of God.
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to be pleasing ourselves.
“There is a prideful tendency to make a show of our liberty in Christ. But grace considers the weak rather than the strong. If there is to be peace and unity it must come from the condescension of those who are able. The weak in faith are not asked to consider the strong. Christ is the most brilliant example in this as in all else. What marvelous condescension He displayed in His dealings with His disciples, whose weakness and lack of faith was a constant source of distress to Him! If He could bridge the great gulf between Him and His disciples, surely we can bear with those whose infirmities we all share.” Concordant Commentary
p 244If we have more knowledge than our brother, we are not arbitrarily to bring him to our standard, any more than he is to bring us down to his. Our greater knowledge rather throws upon us the responsibility of exercising the greater charity and patience.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbor (associate) for his good for his being built up (edification).3 For even Christ pleased not Himself: but, as it is written, “The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fall on Me.”
3 For even Christ pleased not Himself: but, as it is written, “The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fall on Me.”
4 For whatever was written before was written for this teaching of ours, that through endurance and the consolation of the scriptures we may have expectation (mistranslated “hope”).
Virtually every time the word “expectation” appears in the Scriptures, the translators have chosen the incorrect word - “hope.” “Expectation” denotes certainty – the knowledge that what is promised WILL occur. “Hope” implies uncertainty, as in “I HOPE it will happen.” God’s promises are sure! That results in “expectation” in the true Believer, it does NOT result in pitiful “hope.”
5 Now the God of endurance and consolation grant you to be mutually disposed to one another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That you may with one accord and one mouth, glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 6 is one of the texts that organized churches, including the Catholic Church, use to promote ecumenism. They believe that ALL Christians should be in unity, and they will do anything to get them there, including the use of coercion, imprisonment, and even death sentences for those who refuse to believe as they do.
Because the “gospel” they preach has no power, because it is a false “gospel,” they will then ask the state to enforce their teachings on all people. Jesus never uses force. He draws with love. When a religious group enlists the help of the State by using force to coerce all to believe as they do, it establishes, without a doubt, that they are preaching a FALSE “gospel.” It demonstrates the spirit of Anti-Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received you to Himself, for the glory of God.
Christ bears our burdens, not by taking away the law of God, but by taking away our sins, and enabling us to keep the law. He does so by putting His disposition – His character – in us.
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” Romans 8:3,4
We are completely unable to keep the law UNLESS we have the life of Christ in us.
If we know that Christ bears our burdens, it will become a pleasure for us to bear the burdens of others. The problem is that too often we forget that Christ is the Burden-bearer, and, being overpowered with the weight of our own infirmities, we have still less patience with those of others. But when we know that Christ is indeed the Burden-bearer, we cast our own care upon Him; and then when we make the burden of another our own, He bears that too.
8 For I say that Jesus Christ became the Servant (“minister”) of the circumcision (Believers) for the sake of the truth of God, to confirm the patriarchal promises:
The Greek word diakonos (#1249 in Strong’s Concordance) means “to run errands,” an attendant” or “a servant.” The King James Version of the Bible, and many newer translations mistranslate this word “servant” as “minister.”
In today’s world, the “minister” is given a place of honor and reverence and considered a “Leader.” Seminaries, denominations, and religious groups of all kinds hold “Leadership Conferences” teaching pastors and others how to be “Leaders.” But Jesus came to be a “servant.” The word “minister” actually means to be a “servant.”
This proper translation of the word diakonos as “servant” rather than “minister” has been lost in today’s churches. This is also the word that is, at times, translated Deacon, which ALSO means “servant.” Yet, many churches are now requiring those who are proposed as church “deacons” to attend special classes to learn to be “Leaders” - instead of “servants” - as the Bible proclaims.
The Israelites (the Believers) were Christians – they were looking forward to Christ, the Messiah. The Israelites were NOT “Jews.” It is true that the temple where the Israelites worshiped was in Jerusalem, in the area of Judea, so often those who worshiped the true God – the God whose presence was IN the temple – were referred to as “Judeans.” But this had nothing to do with ethnicity, it had to do with whom they worshiped. They worshiped the God of heaven, as opposed to those of the “nations” – the Unbelievers - (mistranslated “Gentiles”) who worshiped many pagan gods.
The words “Judeans” (mistranslated “Jews”) and “nations” (mistranslated “Gentiles”) referred to whom these groups worshiped. The words had nothing to do with ethnicity.
Over time, the Bible translators arbitrarily and incorrectly shortened the word “Judean” to “Jew” and incorrectly attributed ethnicity to the word, something it NEVER has in the Bible. And thus, the supposedly “Jewish” race was concocted out of thin air. But there is no such thing as a “Jewish” race. “Jewishness” is a culture and/or a religion – the culture and the religion of the Babylonian Talmud, the “holiest” book of Judaism, a book that is the antithesis of the Bible.
The group that presently refers to themselves as “Jews” are NOT descendants of Shem (therefore they are NOT “semites”), they are Khazars - descendants of barbarian mongol Turks of Khazaria (an area that is now western Russia) – “Gentiles” who accepted the culture and religion of Judaism.
Christianity did NOT arise from Judaism. Judaism began when the traditions of the Elders – the false doctrines of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes – that Jesus strongly rebuked, were written down in Babylon in the early centuries after they murdered Christ.
There is no such thing as “Judeo-Christian” anything. That word is an oxymoron. Christianity is the antithesis of Judaism. Judaism is the enemy of Christ and Christians – just as it was at the time of Christ.
Why was Jesus the “minister” (servant) of the Circumcision – the Israelites?
Why did Jesus come only to the Lost Sheep of Israel?
When Jesus was born into this world, the only people who had been told about His coming as Christ, the Messiah, were the Israelites. They were of no particular ethnicity as the Bible refers to them as a “mixed multitude” when they came out of Egypt. (The heathen - mistranslated “Gentiles” - had no knowledge of the coming Messiah.)
But the vast majority of the Israelites, over the hundreds of years since the Exodus, had strayed so far from God that they had lost virtually all knowledge of the truth of God and His word. Instead, after the episode of the worship of the golden calf in the wilderness, paganism had penetrated and infiltrated the Israelite culture to such an extent that they didn’t even recognize Christ, the Messiah, when He appeared. Instead, they said He had a devil, and they murdered Him.
Jesus had come to the one group who should have recognized Him. They were the “Organized Christian Church” of Christ’s day. But then, as has happened today, they believed they had the truth - when in reality they had exchanged the God of the Bible for false gods. They were worshiping their temple, their rituals, and their own presumed “specialness” instead of worshiping God. And thus, they were totally unable to recognize Jesus as the Christ, when He appeared.
They expected Him to be totally different from the way He appeared and the gospel He taught. They were totally deceived. The same is true of the Organized Christian Churches of today. They worship a God that is totally different from the real Jesus Christ. The “god” of the “Christian” Church of today is a “Killer” God! Yet Jesus never hurt anyone! The God of the “Christian” Church of today is going to DESTROY His enemies. Yet Jesus FORGAVE His enemies – and He said, “I NEVER change.”
Jesus came only to the “Lost sheep of the House of Israel” to show Himself to them as the Messiah about which all the prophets had prophesied, the One they had known was coming from the First Promise given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15.
When He was totally rejected – and murdered – by the Israelites (Judeans) and their leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes, those who should have recognized Him and worshiped Him, only then did Jesus send His followers to those who had never even heard of Him. Yet they, the heathen, the Unbelievers, (mistranslated “Gentiles”), gladly received the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Characteristics of the Sheep
Those who are following Christ are His sheep. But He has “other sheep.” There are many who are not now following Him, who are also His sheep. They are lost and wandering, and He is seeking them, one by one.
What determines who are His sheep? He says,
“My sheep hear My voice.”
“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice.”
“Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you, My sheep hear My voice. John 10:3, 16, 26, 27
When He speaks, those who are His sheep will hear His voice, and come to Him. The word of the Lord is the test as to who are His sheep. Everyone therefore who hears and obeys the word of the Lord is of the family of Israel; and those who reject or neglect the word, are “lost” – still waiting to be “found.”
“If ye be Christ’s, THEN are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29.
This is the Biblical definition of TRUE “Israel” – the TRUE followers of Jesus Christ!
9 Yet the Unbelievers ( literally “nations” or “heathen” - mistranslated “Gentiles”) might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “For this cause I will be acclaiming Thee among the Unbelievers (“nations” - again mistranslated “Gentiles”), and to Thy name shall I be playing music.”
10 And again He saith, “Rejoice, ye Unbelievers (“nations” – mistranslated “Gentiles”), with His people.
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”); and laud Him, all you people.”
12 And again, Isaiah said, “There shall be the root of Jesse, and He Who is rising to be Chief of (NOT “reign over”) the Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”): on HIM shall the Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”) rely.”
In each of these texts, the word ethnos (#1484 in Strong’s Concordance) is mistranslated “Gentiles.” The proper translation is “nations” – NOT “Gentiles.” This word comes from the root word that means “those who have the same customs or habits.” It refers to the “culture” of a people, not a race.
In this Biblical context, this word refers to their being part of a group that initially worshiped pagan idols, rather than those who worshiped the God of Israel. The religion of the Israelites was Christianity – they were looking forward to Christ, the Messiah, whereas the “nations” worshiped pagan gods and were NOT aware of the expected coming of Christ, the Messiah. The nations (or heathen) were Unbelievers, whereas the (true) Israelites were Believers – in God and the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
13 Now may the God of expectation (mistranslated “hope”) be filling you with all joy and peace in BELIEVING, that you may be superabounding in expectation (mistranslated “hope”) through the power of God’s breath of holiness (mistranslated “Holy Ghost.”)
14 Now I myself also am persuaded concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15 Yet more daringly do I write to you, in part, as prompting you, because of the grace that is given to me from God.
16 That I should be a servant (NOT “minister”) of Christ Jesus for the Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”), acting as a priest of the gospel of God, that the offering up (approach present) of the (nations – mistranslated Gentiles”) might be well received, having been hallowed (sanctified - set apart) by God’s breath of holiness (“Holy Ghost”).
“While the priests at Jerusalem still offered the sacrifices according to the law, their ministrations were not acceptable to God, for they had rejected the true Lamb of God. God had no pleasure in the blood of slain beasts, for the hearts of the offerers were far from Him. . . In spirit, Paul’s ministry among the nations takes the place of the divine ritual at Jerusalem. He officiates as a priest. Though not sanctified by the altar at Jerusalem, they were hallowed by the Holy Spirit (God’s breath of holiness).” Ibid. p 245
17 I have therefore reason to glory through Christ Jesus in those things that pertain to God.
“Paul labored more than all of the other apostles, and, before this point in his ministry, performed greater miracles than the rest. In Acts, every sign in the first part, by Peter, is duplicated in the last part, by Paul.” Ibid.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things that Christ has not wrought through me, for the obedience of the Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”) by word and deed.
19 In the power of signs and miracles, by the power of the Spirit of God: so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
When Jesus was about to leave this world, He told His disciples that they should first receive power from God’s spirit (breath) of holiness, and then He said,
“You shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
“To the Judean first (to the “Believer” first - NOT “to the ‘Jew’ first”) and also to the Greek (the Unbeliever). Romans 1:16
Paul declared that his work as a servant of the gospel consisted in:
“. . .testifying both to the Believers (mistranslated “Jews”) and also to the Unbelievers (Greeks), repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21
20 Yet thus I am ambitious to bring the gospel where Christ is not named (not known – that would be to the Unbelievers), lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.
21 But as it is written, “They who were not informed concerning Him, SHALL see; and they who have not heard, SHALL understand.”
The Unbelievers would be told about Christ and THEY would understand and become Believers.
22 Wherefore I was much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you:
24 Whenever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be helped on my way forward, if first I may enjoy your company for awhile.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem dispensing to the saints.
26 For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make some contributions for the poor of the saints which are in Jerusalem.
27 For they are delighted, and they are their debtors, for if the Unbelievers (nations – mistranslated “Gentiles”) have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister (serve) unto them in material things.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by way of you into Spain.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ which fills.
30 Now I am entreating you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you struggle together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31 That I should be rescued from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my dispensation for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;
Paul knew that there were supposed “Israelites” in Judea who professed to be – but were NOT – true Christians. They claimed to be awaiting the Messiah, but, not only did they not recognize Him when He appeared, they participated in Jesus’ crucifixion.
Paul, himself, eventually became the victim of the same group. Though Paul’s execution occurred in Rome, it was the supposed “Believers” in Jerusalem who were the initial accusers of Paul and who set the chain of circumstances in motion that ultimately led to Paul’s execution.
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
© Lorraine Day, M.D. 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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