Was Jesus sent ONLY to the lost sheep of Israel?

[GeorgeTwo]

Was Jesus sent ONLY to Israel?

Muslims seem to think so based on the following two Scriptures

Matthew 10:5-6 (NIV)

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

Matthew 15:24 (NIV)

"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

but they don’t seen to realize or do not want to admit that Jesus’ mission was to the Jews and the Gentiles alike. In order to understand the scope of Jesus’ mission, we must take all relevant Scriptures into account.

The Jews needed to hear the Gospel first; they needed to be convinced that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. As one theologian said “If Jesus and his followers had simply begun an indiscriminate mission to the wider world, before God’s purpose had unfolded, they would have made God a liar.” God loves the whole world and intends to save the whole world, including the Gentiles, by fulfilling His promises to Israel and this was accomplished through His Messiah, Jesus.

It would be wrong to suggest that the portrait of Jesus in the Gospels ignored the potential inclusion of the nations in Jesus’ mission. Notice Jesus preformed miracles that involved Gentiles.

Jesus’ mission was universal:

Matthew 8:11 (New International Version © 2010)

11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

As Jesus said in Luke 24:

45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And as Apostle Peter said:

Acts 3:25-26 (New International Version)

25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'[a] 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Jesus concentrated primarily on the Jews during His time on earth, but after He rose from the dead, He said:

Acts 1:8 (New International Version)

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Matthew 28: 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

Jesus anticipated that the Gentiles were to be included in His mission:

Matthew 24:14 (New International Version)

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

John 10:16 (New International Version)

16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

If Jesus had meant that His Gospel was only to be preached to the Jews, His disciples would never have gone to the Gentiles, but they did. After Jesus’ resurrection the Gospel was to be preached to all nations – Jew and Gentile alike.

Luke 2:

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

(Simeon quotes from Isaiah; Jesus is the servant of Isaiah., the Messiah)

The Messiah appointed Paul as the Apostle to the Gentiles, but Paul was not the only one who spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. There were others.

Barnabas accepted what Paul was preaching and brought him to the Apostles. (Acts 9:27-28)

Acts 13:45-47 (New International Version)

45When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.

46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

" 'I have made you[a] a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'[c]"

Barnabas and Paul quote Isaiah 9:6.

Isaiah 49:6 (New International Version)

6 he says:
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Jesus’ mission was two-fold – first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.

 

[canukian]

Yes He Came Only For The Lost Sheep Aka The 10 Lost Tribes.

 

[peaceful soul]

Yes He Came Only For The Lost Sheep Aka The 10 Lost Tribes.

Really?

 

[GeorgeTwo]

Yes He Came Only For The Lost Sheep Aka The 10 Lost Tribes.

Did you actually read my post?

Some Muslims claim that Jesus was referring to the ten lost tribes of Israel to take his message to them. Such a theory has no basis in Scripture. Biblical evidence does not suggest that these tribes were "lost" in the sense some Muslims claim. For example, when Ezra made a sin offering to the Lord, for those who returned from captivity, he sacrificed twelve goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel (Ezra 6:17, 8:35). Before the exile, the nation of Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms, but the prophets of God were told that one day these kingdoms would come together and live as one nation (Jeremiah 3:18; Hosea 1:11). We see the prophecy fulfilled in the Old Testament. The ten tribes were consolidated (2 Chronicles 11:14,16; 15:9).

There are examples in the New Testament which confirm that the Jews never considered the ten tribes of Israel to be lost, even though their numbers were depleted:

Anna, the prophetess, was said to be of the tribe of Aser or Asher. (Luke 2:36).

Jesus told his disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones to judge the tribes of Israel. How could they do this if they did not preach the gospel to the other ten tribes? (Matthew 19:28).

In his testimony before King Agrippa, Paul said: "And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day" (Acts 26:6-7).

The letter of James is addressed to Jewish Christians from the twelve tribes of Israel. This shows that the church in Jerusalem knew about the existence of members of each of the tribes

Source: itl-usa.org

 

[canukian]

make a post 10 pages long: you cannot undo these words

mat 15
24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

[GeorgeTwo]

make a post 10 pages long: you cannot undo these words

mat 15
24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

I did in my OP.

021.091
YUSUFALI: And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples.

019.021
YUSUFALI: He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us':It is a matter (so) decreed."

 

[anatolian]

I did in my OP.

021.091
YUSUFALI: And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples.

019.021
YUSUFALI: He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us':It is a matter (so) decreed."

This means both Mary and the prophet Isa through the miracles occured with them were signs to people. We muslims see them as the miracles of Allah just like the other prophets. Those verses do not mean Jesus and the religion of him was sent to all mankind.

 

[GeorgeTwo]

This means both Mary and the prophet Isa through the miracles occured with them were signs to people. We muslims see them as the miracles of Allah just like the other prophets. Those verses do not mean Jesus and the religion of him was sent to all mankind.

According to what Muslims tell me, all prophets brought the same message. A sign to all people's is just that -- all peoples -- 021.091 does not say a sign to the children of Israel.

And a reply to the OP?

I think you can readily see that the Messiah Jesus was sent to all mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike.

 

[peaceful soul]

This means both Mary and the prophet Isa through the miracles occured with them were signs to people. We muslims see them as the miracles of Allah just like the other prophets. Those verses do not mean Jesus and the religion of him was sent to all mankind.

According to what Muslims tell me, all prophets brought the same message. A sign to all people's is just that -- all peoples -- 021.091 does not say a sign to the children of Israel.

And a reply to the OP?

I think you can readily see that the Messiah Jesus was sent to all mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike.

At least according to the tafsir of ibn Kathir, the sign is the miracles--not the message. This sign is to show that Allah as power to do the miraculous--virgin birth and Jesus to speak from the cradle.

21:91

and We made her and her son a sign for the nations.
means, evidence that Allah is able to do all things
and that He creates whatever He wills; verily, His
command, when He intends a thing, is only that
He says to it, "Be'' -- and it is!
This is like the Ayah:

And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to
mankind. (19:21)

19:21

And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind,
This means a proof and a sign for mankind of the
power of their Maker and Creator, Who diversified
them in their creation.
He created their father, Adam, without a male
(father) or female (mother). Then, He created
Hawwa' (Adam's spouse) from a male (father)
without a female (mother). Then, He created the
rest of their progeny from male and female,
except `Isa. He caused `Isa to be born from a
female without a male.
Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation
(of the human being), which proves the
perfection of His power and the magnificence of
His authority. There is no god worthy of worship
except Him and there is no true Lord other than
Him.]

Maybe other tafsirs indicate otherwise.

 

[anatolian]

According to what Muslims tell me, all prophets brought the same message. A sign to all people's is just that -- all peoples -- 021.091 does not say a sign to the children of Israel.

And a reply to the OP?

I think you can readily see that the Messiah Jesus was sent to all mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Yes I say the same thing, He wasn't a sign to only ben-i Israil, the children of Israel but all people since his and all other prophets' stories are told in Quran which is for all people. Quran, but, never says that the religion Isa aleyhisselam brought was to all people. Let's read,

3:50,51,52 "And a verifier of that which is before me of the Taurat and that I may allow you part of that which has been forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me. Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path. But when Isa perceived unbelief on their part, he said Who will be my helpers in Allah's way? The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones. "

Here the 'you' are jews. It says that He came to change some part of that which had been forbidden to the jews.

My knowlegde of Bible is not that good but I explained my opinions considering the prophecies about Jesus and Muhammed aleyhissalam in this thread.

 

[anatolian]

Religion is the discipline together with faith and laws. Yes Islam teaches that the faith of Islam had been the only faith throught out the messages of all prophets but the laws changed from one to another.

 

[GeorgeTwo]

Yes I say the same thing, He wasn't a sign to only ben-i Israil, the children of Israel but all people since his and all other prophets' stories are told in Quran which is for all people. Quran, but, never says that the religion Isa aleyhisselam brought was to all people. Let's read,

3:50,51,52 "And a verifier of that which is before me of the Taurat and that I may allow you part of that which has been forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me. Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path. But when Isa perceived unbelief on their part, he said Who will be my helpers in Allah's way? The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones. "

Here the 'you' are jews. It says that He came to change some part of that which had been forbidden to the jews.

My knowlegde of Bible is not that good but I explained my opinions considering the prophecies about Jesus and Muhammed aleyhissalam in this thread.

Exactly what did Jesus change that was previously forbidden to the Jews?

If your knowledge of the Bible is not good, then it is time for you to read it.

 

[GeorgeTwo]

This means both Mary and the prophet Isa through the miracles occured with them were signs to people. We muslims see them as the miracles of Allah just like the other prophets. Those verses do not mean Jesus and the religion of him was sent to all mankind.

The greatest sign was when Jesus rose from the dead.

Another is that He was born of a virgin. For what purpose, do you suppose?

 

[GeorgeTwo]

Religion is the discipline together with faith and laws. Yes Islam teaches that the faith of Islam had been the only faith throught out the messages of all prophets but the laws changed from one to another.

What is the "faith of Islam"?

Belief in only one God and submit to Him only?

If so, then Jews and Christians are "muslims" with a lower case "m."

 

[peaceful soul]

Religion is the discipline together with faith and laws. Yes Islam teaches that the faith of Islam had been the only faith throught out the messages of all prophets but the laws changed from one to another.

This doesn't work out in the end since Muslim and muslim have two different meanings. muslim can encompass Muslim, but Muslim cannot encompass muslim. Do you understand why? These two words are not interchangeable.

 

[Truth light]

Yes, ONLY

 

[peaceful soul]

Yes, ONLY

If only read certain parts of the NT, then you may conclude this, but when reading the greater context, you can't support this. Note that we are not judging by what the Qu'ran or Islam reveals, but by what the Bible reveals; so, you point is not readily supported from the Christian perspective.

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto
the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The verse above cannot be used in isolation from the other scripture; else, one will get the wrong impression as demonstrated below by showing that the message was to be given to the Gentiles as promised in prophecy.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

At least from the NT, do you still believe that Jesus was only sent to Israel? The scriptures argue against you.

 

[Truth light]

If only read certain parts of the NT, then you may conclude this, but when reading the greater context, you can't support this. Note that we are not judging by what the Qu'ran or Islam reveals, but by what the Bible reveals; so, you point is not readily supported from the Christian perspective.

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto
the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The verse above cannot be used in isolation from the other scripture; else, one will get the wrong impression as demonstrated below by showing that the message was to be given to the Gentiles as promised in prophecy.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

At least from the NT, do you still believe that Jesus was only sent to Israel? The scriptures argue against you.

Which of these is said by Jesus-according to the bible ?

 

[Supreme]

Which of these is said by Jesus-according to the bible ?

Four of them (the verse from Romans is obviously not Jesus speaking).

 

[Truth light]

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Which Gospel if Jesus is the speaker ?