Topical Bible: Unbelief: The Jews Rejected For

◄ Unbelief: The Jews Rejected For ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Unbelief, particularly in the context of the Jewish rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, is a significant theme in the New Testament. This rejection is often attributed to a lack of faith and understanding of God's plan as revealed through Jesus Christ. The New Testament writers, especially the Apostle Paul, address this issue extensively, highlighting both the spiritual and historical dimensions of Jewish unbelief.

Scriptural Basis

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, discusses the unbelief of the Jews and its consequences. In Romans 9:31-32 , Paul writes, "but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, did not attain it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone." Here, Paul emphasizes that the Jews sought righteousness through the law rather than through faith in Christ, leading to their stumbling.

In Romans 11:20 , Paul further explains, "That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." This passage indicates that the Jews' rejection was due to their unbelief, and it serves as a warning to Gentile believers to remain humble and steadfast in their faith.

Historical Context

The rejection of Jesus by many Jews during His earthly ministry is documented in the Gospels. In John 1:11 , it is stated, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." This rejection is portrayed as a fulfillment of prophecy and a pivotal moment in salvation history, where the message of the Gospel began to extend beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the unbelief of the Jews is seen as part of God's sovereign plan. In Romans 11:25-26 , Paul writes, "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove godlessness from Jacob.'" This passage suggests that the current state of unbelief is temporary and serves a greater purpose in God's redemptive plan.

Spiritual Lessons

The theme of unbelief serves as a spiritual lesson for all believers. Hebrews 3:12 warns, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God." This admonition encourages believers to remain vigilant in their faith and to avoid the pitfalls of unbelief that led to the Jews' rejection of Christ.

Conclusion

The rejection of Jesus by the Jews due to unbelief is a complex issue with deep theological and historical roots. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faith in God's promises and the dangers of relying solely on human understanding and works. The New Testament calls believers to learn from this example and to embrace faith in Christ as the cornerstone of their spiritual lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 11:20
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How the Apostle's Preaching was Rejected by Jews and Gentiles ...
... But it was surely this that the foolishness of the Gentiles could not receive, and
the unbelief of the Jews rejected; viz., that the Apostle declared that ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ix how the apostles.htm

Jesus Rejected in Jerusalem.
... 2. Here, as elsewhere, therefore, our Lord traces the unbelief of the Jews to the ...
Those who rejected Him were prompted to do so by their indifference to the ...
/.../xix jesus rejected in jerusalem.htm

The Cause of Unbelief.
... XXII and XXIII, he had been finally rejected by Israel ... very state of things in Israel
and the Jews so acted ... has said again." The cause of their unbelief is not ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the cause of unbelief.htm

Salvation to the Jews
... God had concluded them all in unbelief, that He ... the awful doom pronounced upon the
Jews as a ... in the lowly Nazarene whom their forefathers rejected and crucified ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 35 salvation to the.htm

The Blasphemy of These Heretics is Worse than the Jewish Unbelief.
... who insulted our Lord's bodily presence by their wanton unbelief. ... urged His humble
and obscure origin, and rejected His divine ... In the eyes of the Jews it was a ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 21 the blasphemy of.htm

Against those who Fancy that in the Judgment of God all the ...
... might be confounded by the bitterness of unbelief, and might ... of the Gentiles and
those of the Jews whom He ... and adopted by the Roman church, but rejected by the ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 24 against those who fancy.htm

A New Order of Priests and Levites
... Levites. Others would say it points to the Jews, rejected for their unbelief
and dispersed in judgment among all nations. When their ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a new order of priests.htm

Miracles no Remedy for Unbelief.
... them, with this one peculiarity, that they had rejected direct and ... be in any of you"
(as there was among the Jews) "an evil heart of unbelief in departing ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vi miracles no remedy.htm

Whether Christ Should have Preached not Only to the Jews, but Also ...
... should have a valid excuse, and say that they had rejected our Lord ... the grain of
wheat that must be mortified by the unbelief of the Jews, multiplied by the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ should have preached.htm

A Warning Rejected.
... advent, and in their pride and unbelief they rejected ... But those who rejected the
truth lost all desire ... rejection of the gospel, the Jews continued zealously to ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /21 a warning rejected.htm