Topical Bible: Unbelief: Jews in Jerusalem

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Topical Encyclopedia

Unbelief among the Jews in Jerusalem is a recurring theme throughout the biblical narrative, particularly in the New Testament. This unbelief is often depicted as a significant barrier to the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and is addressed by various New Testament authors.

Old Testament Context

The roots of unbelief among the Jewish people can be traced back to the Old Testament, where the Israelites frequently struggled with faithfulness to God. Despite witnessing numerous miracles and receiving the Law through Moses, the Israelites often turned to idolatry and disobedience. This pattern of unbelief set the stage for the challenges faced by Jesus and the early church in Jerusalem.

New Testament Accounts

1. Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem

During His earthly ministry, Jesus frequently encountered unbelief among the Jewish leaders and people in Jerusalem. Despite performing miracles and teaching with authority, many were skeptical of His claims. In John 12:37-38 , it is noted, "Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: 'Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'"

2. Rejection by Religious Leaders

The religious leaders in Jerusalem, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, were particularly resistant to Jesus' message. Their unbelief was often rooted in a desire to maintain their authority and traditions. In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounces woes upon the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness, highlighting their refusal to accept Him as the Messiah.

3. The Crucifixion

The ultimate expression of unbelief in Jerusalem was the crucifixion of Jesus. Despite His innocence and the signs He performed, the crowd in Jerusalem, influenced by the chief priests and elders, demanded His crucifixion (Matthew 27:22-23). This act of unbelief fulfilled the prophecies concerning the suffering Messiah and demonstrated the depth of spiritual blindness among the people.

4. The Early Church and Continued Unbelief

After the resurrection of Jesus, the apostles faced significant opposition from the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. The Book of Acts records numerous instances where the apostles preached the gospel boldly, yet many in Jerusalem remained unbelieving. Acts 4:1-3 describes how Peter and John were arrested by the priests and Sadducees for proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.

5. Paul's Experience

The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee, also encountered unbelief among the Jews in Jerusalem. In Acts 21-22, Paul is arrested in the temple after being accused of teaching against the Law and defiling the holy place. Despite his efforts to explain his conversion and mission, many in Jerusalem rejected his message.

Theological Implications

The unbelief of the Jews in Jerusalem serves as a poignant reminder of the human tendency to resist divine truth. It underscores the necessity of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in overcoming spiritual blindness. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, emphasize that salvation is available to all who believe, both Jew and Gentile, and that unbelief can be overcome through the grace of God.

Conclusion

The theme of unbelief among the Jews in Jerusalem is a complex and multifaceted topic within the biblical narrative. It highlights the challenges faced by Jesus and the early church and serves as a call to faith and repentance for all who hear the gospel message.

Nave's Topical Index

Romans 15:31
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Jesus Discussed in Jerusalem.
... of feeling towards Jesus in Jerusalem, and how the storm of unbelief gathered until ...
caution, "for fear of the Jews""that is, of the Jerusalem Jews, who were ...
/.../xvi jesus discussed in jerusalem.htm

Jesus Rejected in Jerusalem.
... at the root of His rejection by the authorities and people of Jerusalem. ... 2. Here,
as elsewhere, therefore, our Lord traces the unbelief of the Jews to the ...
/.../xix jesus rejected in jerusalem.htm

Jesus in the Temple.
... The antidote to unbelief is for the heart to say, not my will but thine be done. ...
Their perplexity was genuine, but as the Jews of Jerusalem looked with ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus in the temple.htm

Refutation of the Jews
... but indeed all Scripture teems with disproof of Jewish unbelief. ... Nor is it any use
for the Jews to take refuge in the Captivity, and say that Jerusalem did not ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 6 refutation of the.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... been denounced against Jerusalem, and her stubborn unbelief rendered her ... Upon the
retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... been denounced against Jerusalem, and her stubborn unbelief rendered her ... Upon the
retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

Journey to Jerusalem. Ten Lepers. Concerning the Kingdom.
... of the Sodomites called down upon them, the fires from heaven, and as the unbelief
of the Jews of Christ's day caused the destruction of Jerusalem and the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcv journey to jerusalem ten.htm

Acts of Saint Philip the Apostle when He Went to Upper Hellas.
... Ananias, the great high priest of the Jews in Jerusalem ... for I know thee, that in
Jerusalem thy master ... Would that, O Ananias, thy covering of unbelief were taken ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/acts of saint philip the.htm

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... Zechariah lead to the inevitable conclusion that the Jews return to their land in
unbelief, for if their national conversion takes place in Jerusalem (Zech.12 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm

Feast of the Dedication. The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus and He ...
... was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: 23; it ... xx.9.7.] 24 The Jews therefore
came round about him ... the cause, but the evidence of their unbelief.] 27 My ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxviii feast of the dedication.htm