Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Romans part 147 - One in Messiah 36

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Romans 10:21 But about Israel He says, "All day long I stretched forth My hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

As we are at the end of Romans, chapter 10, I thought I would write a second time on this last verse before beginning chapter 11 next time. Hearing no objection (I listened), let's proceed.

The verse seems hard on Jewish people. What other people are called "disobedient and contrary" in Scripture? "Hey, you disobedient and contrary people over there, wouldn't you want to love Jesus?" We make it so easy for Jewish people to answer, "Now that you mention it, no, but thanks for asking."

In fact, it is a common complaint among Jewish people that the New Testament puts all Jews in a bad light. For centuries now, Jewish people have been labeled "Christ killers."

Rabbi Trail: The truth is, we all are "Christ killers." Our sins (all of us are included) caused His death. Beside that ... Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased Adonai to bruise Him. He caused Him to suffer. End RT.

But there are many Jews who are heroes in the New Testament, most notably, Yeshua Himself. Yeshua's parents, Miriam and Joseph were heroes, and so were all the Apostles along with many many more.

My point in mentioning all this is to let Jewish people know that the New Testament is actually favorable toward Jews. By comparison, the Hebrew Scriptures (the TaNaCH) is/are much harder on Jewish people. Let's do a little "compare and contrast."

Jeremiah 7:25-29 ... from the day your fathers left the land of Egypt until today. Although I sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily and persistently, they did not listen to Me or pay attention. Rather, they stiffened their neck, doing more evil than their fathers ... Adonai has spurned and cast off the generation of His wrath.

By contrast ... Romans 3:1-2a Then what is the advantage of being Jewish? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Much in every way.

Then there is the eternal stain of the golden calf incident ... Exodus 32:7-9 Then Adonai said to Moses, "Go down! For your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have become debased. They quickly turned aside from the path that I commanded for them. They have made a molten calf, worshipped it, and sacrificed to it, and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt.'" Adonai said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people."

As an example of hyperbole people ask, "Is the Pope a Catholic?" I want to ask, "Is anyone more Jewish than King David?" Yeshua sits on David's throne. That's good news for Jewish people.

Luke 1:31-33 Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.

The Gospel is good news for Jewish people. Some Jewish leaders in Yeshua's day were threatened by His ministry, but that does not equal an eternity in hell for all Jewish people. As we close this today, let's take a sneak peek to what Paul says in Romans 11 regarding the benefit to the world that those Jewish leaders rejected Yeshua.

Romans 11:26-29 ... and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Concerning the Good News, they are hostile for your sake; but concerning chosenness, they are loved on account of the fathers - for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

That's a great way to end. Shalom Shalom.