Why did God send the Messiah to only the Jewish people?

Answer: God sent Jesus to the Jewish people, as their Messiah for several reasons. First, to provide them with the opportunity to become the seed of promise mentioned to their fathers that would bless all the families of the earth. God mentioned this opportunity to Moses in Ex. 19:5-6 (NASB): “‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; (6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

The apostle Paul explains that the Law Covenant was a tutor to prepare Israel to accept Jesus as their Messiah. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24 NASB) The Law’s high priest pictured Jesus as a great high priest sacrificing first himself and then his followers as that great sin-offering that would cleanse Israel and mankind from their sins. Moses in his role as mediator pictured Jesus as the greater mediator of the New Covenant who will bring both Israel and all mankind back to perfection and harmony with God. (Heb. 12:24)

The Law was the measure of perfect man’s ability and Israel’s inability to keep the Law, because they were imperfect, was designed to show them that could not be justified in God’s sight by their own works. “Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Gal. 2:16 NASB) Instead, Israel would need a redeemer to save them, the Messiah.

Jesus was also sent to Israel to redeem them from their sins against the Law Covenant. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, (5) so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5 NASB)

However, Israel as a nation did not accept Jesus as their Messiah. “He [Jesus] came to His own [Israel] , and those who were His own did not receive Him. (12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:11-12 NASB) While the nation did not accept Jesus, a number of individual Jews did and they formed the nucleus of the church, the spiritual seed of promise that will be glorified with Jesus in heaven and fulfill God’s promise to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth.

For additional information please see our related booklets and videos below.

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