172 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 1 - Part 4 - Book 15 - Christ's Earthly Ministry

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 1 * PART 4 * BOOK 15 CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY Let's continue our study of Christ's earthly ministry in Matthew Chapter 10. In the first four verses, The Lord has just called the twelve disciples: Matthew 10:5 "These twelve Jesus sent forth (remember this was at the beginning of His earthly ministry) and (underline the next word, because when Jesus commands, you can't get it from any higher authority) commanded them, saying, `Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:'" Later in His ministry Jesus will go to the city of Samaria. Philip will also go to Samaria in the Book of Acts, but for now Jesus is qualifying that they go not to a Gentile or Samaritan. Remember this is a commandment by Jesus: Matthew 10:6 Also remember Jesus is there to fulfill the promises and covenants made to the Nation of Israel (the Abrahamic Covenant was a promise of People, Land, Government and kings, but He would also have to be their Redeemer as well as King). Yes, the Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus did come to save all sinners, but remember, Paul teaches in the Age of Grace. Here, Jesus is still under the Covenant economy and that meant Jew only - that's hard for people to swallow. Now let's look at Matthew Chapter 15. I was totally shocked when he said, `You've got to remember that Jesus had just begun His earthly ministry. Jesus knew what He was doing. Matthew 15:21-23 "Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon." Matthew 15:24 "But he (Christ) answered and said, `I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel:'" Jesus himself said it. Why? Because of the covenants. There were no Gentiles in those covenants. It was Jew only. So the Gentile woman was presuming upon something that she had no right to presume. Now verse 25. Matthew 15:25,26 The Jews! Who are the dogs of Christ's day? Gentiles. Jesus in so many words said, "Now look, lady, its not right for me to take this which belongs to the Jew and give it to a Gentile. Verse 27: Matthew 15:27 Now verse 28: Matthew 15:28 "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, `O woman, (the word woman as it is used here, and also as Jesus addressed Mary as He hung on the Cross, was not a degrading term. The Jew couldn't condescend to acknowledging that this Nazarene was the Son of David. To prove my point from Scripture, go to John Chapter 12, This was just before Christ's Crucifixion. Christ knew that. John 12:20 "And there were certain Greeks (Gentiles) among them that came up to worship at the feast:" I think Gentiles would mingle among this Jewish crowd to witness all that was going on among the worshiping Jews. Remember though, the Gentiles could not go into the Temple. John 12:21 Philip remembered only too well what had happened the times before when Gentiles wanted to see Jesus. Now verse 22: John 12:22 "Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus." Now remember what they tell Jesus: "There are Gentiles who want to see you." John 12:23 "And Jesus answered them, saying, `The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." John 12:24 That seed, for all practical purposes, dies. Out of the death of that seed then comes new life, and like Jesus said, "...it bringeth forth much fruit." Paul is writing to Gentile believers under Grace rather the Law. Ephesus was a Gentile city of the Gentile Church, the Body of Christ. Ephesians 2:11 The Jews. What did they call Gentiles? Uncircumcised dogs, most of the time. Ephesians 2:12 "That at that time (back when you were called uncircumcised dogs. ye (Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise (do you see how plain this is?), having no hope, and without God in the world: You were not Jews or citizens of the Nation of Israel. And so while God was dealing with Israel on the basis of the covenants (which would be from Genesis Chapter 12 all the way to Acts Chapter 9), where were Gentiles? Jesus and the Twelve couldn't preach that Gospel. Why? God told Jonah, a good Law-abiding Jew, to go to the city of Nineveh, a Gentile city. For all practical purposes Jonah died. In type or picture, a resurrection. After experiencing death, burial, and resurrection where can Jonah go? To the Gentiles. In Ephesians Chapter 2, look at verse 13. Ephesians 2:13 Through the Apostle Paul's teachings, the Gentile is under Grace through the finished work of the Cross. Law and Grace cannot mix. The Gentiles could not have any part or opportunity in those Covenant promises. But the Jew now has the same opportunity as the Gentile under Grace. In Grace, based upon Christ's death, burial and Resurrection, God can now impart salvation to the whole human race. He doesn't confine it to the Jew, and He doesn't confine it to the Gentile. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible