- Dec 11, 2010
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I wonder how an individual can read a scripture such as the following, when Jesus says in (Matthew 15:24 ) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel and yet not understand the significance or the importance of biblical Israel. The truth of the matter is, people as a whole, know very little about Israel or their relationship with God. A point one should take note of, is that, it was Israel who received the word of God. It was Israel, through whom God revealed Himself to man. And Jesus, Himself was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now other sheep, were received into Jesus fold and these other sheep were the Gentiles. Jesus stated that there would be one fold and one shepherd. In other words Jesus is the way of salvation to all, to Jew and Gentile alike. And to follow Jesus, and to be His sheep, one must obey the word of God. Now Gods word as mentioned was given to Israel. Hence to be a sheep in Jesus fold, one must adhere to the word given to Israel.
JESUS TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST
As stated Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and the following verses will show that Jesus came to seek and to save them.
Luke (19:9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The fact that Jesus was specifically sent to Israel, is further confirmed when one views, how He responded to a request for mercy, from a Canaan women. And in addition note, what He commanded His apostles to do.
Jesus says in Matthew (15:24) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Again in Matthew (10:5) 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.
ISRAEL, A LOST SHEEP
The prophets had foretold the fact, that Jesus was to come to the house of Israel, and also become a light to the Gentiles.
In the Scriptures it’s written in Isaiah (53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Now in Jeremiah (50:6) My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. (7) All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.
David uses the same analogy as far as referring to Israel as lost sheep.
Psalms (119:176) I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Psalms (100:3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Ezekiel prophesied that Jesus would seek out His sheep which are the house of Israel.
Ezekiel (34:1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (6) My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
(11) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
(12) As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Jesus tells us that all written of Him must be fulfilled. (Luke 24:44) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Thus Jesus stating in ( Matthew 15:24) that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, was a fulfillment of prophecy.
JESUS TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST
As stated Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and the following verses will show that Jesus came to seek and to save them.
Luke (19:9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The fact that Jesus was specifically sent to Israel, is further confirmed when one views, how He responded to a request for mercy, from a Canaan women. And in addition note, what He commanded His apostles to do.
Jesus says in Matthew (15:24) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Again in Matthew (10:5) 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.
ISRAEL, A LOST SHEEP
The prophets had foretold the fact, that Jesus was to come to the house of Israel, and also become a light to the Gentiles.
In the Scriptures it’s written in Isaiah (53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Now in Jeremiah (50:6) My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. (7) All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.
David uses the same analogy as far as referring to Israel as lost sheep.
Psalms (119:176) I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Psalms (100:3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Ezekiel prophesied that Jesus would seek out His sheep which are the house of Israel.
Ezekiel (34:1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (6) My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
(11) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
(12) As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Jesus tells us that all written of Him must be fulfilled. (Luke 24:44) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Thus Jesus stating in ( Matthew 15:24) that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, was a fulfillment of prophecy.