ChristiansUnite Forums

Go not to the Gentiles or non-Jews:

Matt.10:5-9;(KJV)  
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,  
10 nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

<:)))><

Now told to go to all men:

Titus 2:11-14;(KJV) 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.


<:)))><

Correct. The synoptic gospels are purely Jewish and consisted of Messiah coming to the Jews in fulfillment of prophecy and covenant. (Romans 15:8,9)

aw

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Heavy

aw:

It's going too far to call the synoptic Gospels "purely Jewish".  Although Messiah was first sent to Israel, the Gospels themselves are universal -- for all men, in all ages, and from all religious backgrounds.  Simeon intimates this in his prophetic utterance upon seeing the child Jesus: "A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES, AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL" (Luke 2:32).

Christ deliberately limited the ministry of His apostles to those of Israel before His resurrection, but He Himself ministered in Samaria, Gadara, Tyre and Sidon, and other areas bordering Israel, which we often forget. After His resurecction, He opened the door to all humanity, since the King of the Jews had come to Israel and been rejected. The Church age, which was already in the mind of God, began at Pentecost and continues to this day.

While we need to understand the background of the coming of Messiah, the synoptics also reveal that Christ found more faith in the Gentiles whose lives He touched, than in all the Jews -- the Roman centurion, the Syrophoenecian woman, the Samaritan leper.  So none of the Gospels is "purely" Jewish.  If anything, the Gospels are "anti-Judaistic", "anti-rabbinical", anti-Pharasaical". The "traditions of the elders", so dear to Jewish hearts today in the Talmud, were unsparingly condemned by Christ.

and I agree that ALL scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable. Essentially, I am stressing that the church was not in existence and had not even been prophecied at that point. It was a MYSTERY hid in God and since the Church has not replaced national Israel, the synoptics do not contain specific instructions for the body of Christ.

Take for example the 10 virgins with half being foolish. This can be confusing if one tries to fit members of the body of Christ into either group of virgins. The Lord is coming back for His bride and not those in attendance. The principle for us to "BE READY" and that is important.

Just one other, if the synoptic gospels were taken literally and for the church, we should be praying that "Our flight be not on the sabbath, etc."

I hope you see my point as the teachings of the KINGDOM in the synoptics do not apply to salvation for the Gentiles and the body of Christ. They were instructed specifiaclly to go NOT in the way of the Gentiles. Check Romans 15:8,9.

aw