The Blindness Of The Jews

[RichGladden]

In another thread of similar nature, I find one of several stumbling blocks that prohibits "some" from advancing in the learning of God's grace and ways is the subject of the blindness of the Jews.

What bothers me most is their failure to see that as this so-called "blindness" as well as the hardening of their hearts were set in, many of those same "Jews" believed in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) and followed him. It was the 'Jews" that started what we know as Christianity, some of them being martyred for the cause of Christ in the process. That is how strong their faith was.

To this very day, some of those claiming to be Jews are coming to Christ recognizing Him as the promised Messiah, and becoming Messianic Jews; while some, leaving behind all forms of Judaism are becoming Christians, with no ties to Judaism other than through bloodline.

Now what I find distressing, is the constant reliance on the "blindness" of the Jews, or the "hardening of their hearts" like it is a crutch every virtue-signally Christian has to lean on, without regard to the countless numbers of former Jews, no longer blinded, no longer with hardened heart, now in the body of Christ. This tells me that the blindness and hardening of the heart are not just to the Jews.

How many have read about the blindness and never thought that the disciples were Jews? Why weren't they blinded? Or the many followers of Christ before witnessing to the gentiles? So there is something to the blindness and the hardening of the heart and I can a good idea of what it might possibly be and why many Christians stumble and bicker so. It is pride and willfulness, both of which silence the conscience.

At any time, any one of the Jews could have shed the scales and sought Jesus just as many have.

 

[Blik]

In another thread of similar nature, I find one of several stumbling blocks that prohibits "some" from advancing in the learning of God's grace and ways is the subject of the blindness of the Jews.

What bothers me most is their failure to see that as this so-called "blindness" as well as the hardening of their hearts were set in, many of those same "Jews" believed in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) and followed him. It was the 'Jews" that started what we know as Christianity, some of them being martyred for the cause of Christ in the process. That is how strong their faith was.

To this very day, some of those claiming to be Jews are coming to Christ recognizing Him as the promised Messiah, and becoming Messianic Jews; while some, leaving behind all forms of Judaism are becoming Christians, with no ties to Judaism other than through bloodline.

Now what I find distressing, is the constant reliance on the "blindness" of the Jews, or the "hardening of their hearts" like it is a crutch every virtue-signally Christian has to lean on, without regard to the countless numbers of former Jews, no longer blinded, no longer with hardened heart, now in the body of Christ. This tells me that the blindness and hardening of the heart are not just to the Jews.

How many have read about the blindness and never thought that the disciples were Jews? Why weren't they blinded? Or the many followers of Christ before witnessing to the gentiles? So there is something to the blindness and the hardening of the heart and I can a good idea of what it might possibly be and why many Christians stumble and bicker so. It is pride and willfulness, both of which silence the conscience.

At any time, any one of the Jews could have shed the scales and sought Jesus just as many have.

The stumbling of the Jews is part of God's plan as we are told in
Romans 11:8 just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

We are not to judge them, our judgments are to be limited to judging what is sin and what is not. It is judging sin, not people.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

 

[Magenta]

Luke 24:27 + 31

 

[Nehemiah6]

How many have read about the blindness and never thought that the disciples were Jews? Why weren't they blinded? Or the many followers of Christ before witnessing to the gentiles?

This has nothing to do with the blindness of UNBELIEVING Jews. It was the unbelievers who were blinded.

 

[Lanolin]

Not all Israel is Israel I think it was said, and the early church had the most problems with unbelieving Jews rather than unbelieving Gentiles. But then Paul had his scales fall from his eyes so....

I dont think there should be a problem for most and I dont see any christians 'virtue signaling' whether their background is jewish or not. Many traditional Jews try to keep their culture and customs apart from christianity but are not really hostile to Jesus as some had been...atheists are actually probably MORE hostile and vociferous about Christians and persecuting believers than Jews are.

it was more of a problem with Pharisees that were a specific religious group of Jews than the others cos they had the control over how Judaism back then was practiced.

 

[Jesusfollower]

in John 12 we find;

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 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?”[h]

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Peace,

JF

 

[billabong]

In another thread of similar nature, I find one of several stumbling blocks that prohibits "some" from advancing in the learning of God's grace and ways is the subject of the blindness of the Jews.

What bothers me most is their failure to see that as this so-called "blindness" as well as the hardening of their hearts were set in, many of those same "Jews" believed in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) and followed him. It was the 'Jews" that started what we know as Christianity, some of them being martyred for the cause of Christ in the process. That is how strong their faith was.

To this very day, some of those claiming to be Jews are coming to Christ recognizing Him as the promised Messiah, and becoming Messianic Jews; while some, leaving behind all forms of Judaism are becoming Christians, with no ties to Judaism other than through bloodline.

Now what I find distressing, is the constant reliance on the "blindness" of the Jews, or the "hardening of their hearts" like it is a crutch every virtue-signally Christian has to lean on, without regard to the countless numbers of former Jews, no longer blinded, no longer with hardened heart, now in the body of Christ. This tells me that the blindness and hardening of the heart are not just to the Jews.

How many have read about the blindness and never thought that the disciples were Jews? Why weren't they blinded? Or the many followers of Christ before witnessing to the gentiles? So there is something to the blindness and the hardening of the heart and I can a good idea of what it might possibly be and why many Christians stumble and bicker so. It is pride and willfulness, both of which silence the conscience.

At any time, any one of the Jews could have shed the scales and sought Jesus just as many have.

I think it would help to recognize that the blindness is on the nation of Israel. All individual people all over the world (including the Jews) are free to accept or reject Christ

 

[RichGladden]

Not all Israel is Israel I think it was said, and the early church had the most problems with unbelieving Jews rather than unbelieving Gentiles. But then Paul had his scales fall from his eyes so....

I dont think there should be a problem for most and I dont see any christians 'virtue signaling' whether their background is jewish or not. Many traditional Jews try to keep their culture and customs apart from christianity but are not really hostile to Jesus as some had been...atheists are actually probably MORE hostile and vociferous about Christians and persecuting believers than Jews are.

it was more of a problem with Pharisees that were a specific religious group of Jews than the others cos they had the control over how Judaism back then was practiced.

Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Joh 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Joh 12:42 NEVERTHELESS among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

 

[RichGladden]

I think it would help to recognize that the blindness is on the nation of Israel. All individual people all over the world (including the Jews) are free to accept or reject Christ

My point exactly! We see evidence of many Jews turning to Christ even today.

 

[studentoftheword]

God doesn't force anyone to receive His Son -----we were given free choice in our decision making -----God has to draw the person by softening their harden heart and open their mind to the hearing of His Word so the right Faith is inbirthed in them -----

God sent His Son to preach first to the Jews -----some were receptive to the message as they themselves made the decision to respond to God's drawing of their hearts to soften and to open their minds to the hearing of the message ------some chose to allow their hearts to remain hardened and therefor their minds stayed closed to the hearing of the message --this was their choice not God's ----God allows one to maintain their desired choice ----this is shown with Pharaoh in Egypt -who God was calling on to have a heart change but Allowed Pharaoh to maintain his hardened heart and closed mind to His plea to free His people -
-God could have forced Pharaoh's heart to change but God never forces people to accept His Will ----we decide to accept or reject God"s Will for us ----so God had to bring disaster upon Pharaoh and Egypt to get His Jews free from Bondage ------

Sin causes Spiritual Blindness and a hardened Heart ----God leaves us to our own fleshy devices -----All God does is draw us to Him we then either accept the draw or we ignore the draw and carry on with our Prideful --wicked ----sinful lives and ---we leave God behind ---God never leaves us behind -----

The Jews who decided themselves to reject Jesus as the Messiah were left to their own fleshy desires By God because He gave us free Choice and there are still many Jews who have remained Spiritually Blinded and have hardened their hearts by their own Pride -- Jealousy and unbelief -----

But all Gentiles are to love the Jewish community and we most assuredly should respect the Jewish community as they were God's first Chosen Nation and we the Gentiles were only Grafted into the Good New by and through God's first chosen Nation who by their own Fleshy desires rejected Jesus as their Messiah -----and only then were the Gentiles allowed to take part in God's free Graced Gift of Salvation -

There are many people today calling themselves Christians who are Spiritually Bind -----

Words of Wisdom -----

 

[p_rehbein]

Now what I find distressing, is the constant reliance on the "blindness" of the Jews, or the "hardening of their hearts" like it is a crutch every virtue-signally Christian has to lean on, without regard to the countless numbers of former Jews, no longer blinded, no longer with hardened heart, now in the body of Christ. This tells me that the blindness and hardening of the heart are not just to the Jews.

However, the Apostle Paul said:

Romans, Chapter 2:
28) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

I believe your comment would be better if you distinguish between those who continue to live under the 1st Covenant, Law, and those who believe in Jesus and choose to live under the New Covenant, Grace.

We are all children of God by "ADOPTION." And become heirs to the Promise, making us the Jews Paul said were Jews "inwardly." Right?

Romans, Chapter 4:

13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

[RichGladden]

God doesn't force anyone to receive His Son -----we were given free choice in our decision making -----God has to draw the person by softening their harden heart and open their mind to the hearing of His Word so the right Faith is inbirthed in them -----

God sent His Son to preach first to the Jews -----some were receptive to the message as they themselves made the decision to respond to God's drawing of their hearts to soften and to open their minds to the hearing of the message ------some chose to allow their hearts to remain hardened and therefor their minds stayed closed to the hearing of the message --this was their choice not God's ----God allows one to maintain their desired choice ----this is shown with Pharaoh in Egypt -who God was calling on to have a heart change but Allowed Pharaoh to maintain his hardened heart and closed mind to His plea to free His people -
-God could have forced Pharaoh's heart to change but God never forces people to accept His Will ----we decide to accept or reject God"s Will for us ----so God had to bring disaster upon Pharaoh and Egypt to get His Jews free from Bondage ------

Sin causes Spiritual Blindness and a hardened Heart ----God leaves us to our own fleshy devices -----All God does is draw us to Him we then either accept the draw or we ignore the draw and carry on with our Prideful --wicked ----sinful lives and ---we leave God behind ---God never leaves us behind -----

The Jews who decided themselves to reject Jesus as the Messiah were left to their own fleshy desires By God because He gave us free Choice and there are still many Jews who have remained Spiritually Blinded and have hardened their hearts by their own Pride -- Jealousy and unbelief -----

But all Gentiles are to love the Jewish community and we most assuredly should respect the Jewish community as they were God's first Chosen Nation and we the Gentiles were only Grafted into the Good New by and through God's first chosen Nation who by their own Fleshy desires rejected Jesus as their Messiah -----and only then were the Gentiles allowed to take part in God's free Graced Gift of Salvation -

There are many people today calling themselves Christians who are Spiritually Bind -----

Words of Wisdom -----

View attachment 241753

It would appear we have similar beliefs. I, too, believe that at any time, one calling himself Jew could have come to Christ. How can one not believe that when even the Bible bears witness to such events. I am familiar with one Andrew Klavan, who now refers to himself as a Messianic Jew and Christian *I've heard both), who wrote a book on how he came to Christ called "The Great Good Thing". He does a podcast I listen to and it was he that started me questioning the "Blindness of the Jews" scenario. Be strong in the Lord!

 

[p_rehbein]

Andrew Klavan, who now refers to himself as a Messianic Jew and Christian

Given the Godless state of our Society today, I expect some folks to be confused: "Am I a man? A woman? Both?"

However, this idea that a person can be confused if they are a Jew STILL choosing to live under the 1st Covenant, Law, AND the New Covenant, Grace as disciples of Jesus is NOT Biblical IMO. And, in the opinion of the Apostle Paul as he stated in various places in his Epistles.

Those who choose to live by the Law shall be judged by the Law; and, I assure you, that will not work out well for them......

Romans, Chapter 3:

19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Christians live under the Law of the New Covenant, THE LAW OF FAITH!

 

[studentoftheword]

It would appear we have similar beliefs.

 

[Moses_Young]

Now what I find distressing, is the constant reliance on the "blindness" of the Jews, or the "hardening of their hearts" like it is a crutch every virtue-signally Christian has to lean on, without regard to the countless numbers of former Jews, no longer blinded, no longer with hardened heart, now in the body of Christ. This tells me that the blindness and hardening of the heart are not just to the Jews.

How many have read about the blindness and never thought that the disciples were Jews? Why weren't they blinded? Or the many followers of Christ before witnessing to the gentiles? So there is something to the blindness and the hardening of the heart and I can a good idea of what it might possibly be and why many Christians stumble and bicker so. It is pride and willfulness, both of which silence the conscience.

At any time, any one of the Jews could have shed the scales and sought Jesus just as many have.

I believe this excuse works against our cause. As you have said, scripture is clear that the Jews will be blinded. This shouldn't detract from our mission, but some use it either to justify not even trying to win over Jews for Christ, or to somehow justify Christian support for worldly endeavours conducted by those calling themselves Jews (e.g. excusing crimes or otherwise committed by those claiming to be Jews).

From the beginning, God was clear that a veil of stubbornness was obstructing our hearts.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

God even gave the Jews circumcision as a physical metaphor for this heart problem, but they (mostly) fail to understand the meaning of the symbol even to this day (as scripture says they would).

2 Corinthians 3:13 - 15
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Scripture outlines that what is important is a circumcised heart, rather than a Jewish heritage and rituals, but sadly, some Christians even today (in part due to propaganda) put an unhealthy weighting on being Jewish (by race or ritual). Jesus said to the Pharisees (who were Jews) that their father was the devil - it is no help to anyone to be Jewish but unsaved.

Romans 2:28 - 29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

[Grandpa]

This has nothing to do with the blindness of UNBELIEVING Jews. It was the unbelievers who were blinded.

Yes, the blindness applies to all unbelievers.

But people bringing up the scriptures that say a blindness has happened to the Jewish people neglect that fact.

Its like Black lives matter. It seems like a right thing. But when you look at it its not. Its an exclusion to everyone else. Its racist. And thats the way the scriptures are being used that show a blindness has happened to the Jews.

Instead of realizing we are one in Christ Jesus, some people are STILL trying to show that there is a SPECIAL class of people and then there is the lower class. Its wrong and they refuse to see it.

 

[studentoftheword]

We are all children of God by "ADOPTION." And become heirs to the Promise, making us the Jews Paul said were Jews "inwardly." Right?

For me this statement is ridiculous ----you can't make yourself a Jew just by receiving Jesus -----you have to be born a Jew ----If you were not Born a Jew then you are a Gentile ------A Gentile cannot become a Jew by and through Salvation ------all who receive Jesus are not Labeled ---they are ONE under The Anointed One ----(CHRIST ) -----

From Google
The apostle Paul, born between 5-15 CE, was a devout Jew, “circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin

So Paul was born a Jew --your either Born a Jew --or your Born a Gentile ------Salvation doesn't change -that---Salvation Takes the Labels away -----your neither a Jew or a Gentile ---your neither a Male or Female ----all labels are erased

That is how I see that -----

 

[RichGladden]

Given the Godless state of our Society today, I expect some folks to be confused: "Am I a man? A woman? Both?"

However, this idea that a person can be confused if they are a Jew STILL choosing to live under the 1st Covenant, Law, AND the New Covenant, Grace as disciples of Jesus is NOT Biblical IMO. And, in the opinion of the Apostle Paul as he stated in various places in his Epistles.

Those who choose to live by the Law shall be judged by the Law; and, I assure you, that will not work out well for them......

Romans, Chapter 3:

19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Christians live under the Law of the New Covenant, THE LAW OF FAITH!

It seems we agree. Thank you for the comment.

 

[RichGladden]

I believe this excuse works against our cause. As you have said, scripture is clear that the Jews will be blinded. This shouldn't detract from our mission, but some use it either to justify not even trying to win over Jews for Christ, or to somehow justify Christian support for worldly endeavours conducted by those calling themselves Jews (e.g. excusing crimes or otherwise committed by those claiming to be Jews).

From the beginning, God was clear that a veil of stubbornness was obstructing our hearts.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

God even gave the Jews circumcision as a physical metaphor for this heart problem, but they (mostly) fail to understand the meaning of the symbol even to this day (as scripture says they would).

2 Corinthians 3:13 - 15
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Scripture outlines that what is important is a circumcised heart, rather than a Jewish heritage and rituals, but sadly, some Christians even today (in part due to propaganda) put an unhealthy weighting on being Jewish (by race or ritual). Jesus said to the Pharisees (who were Jews) that their father was the devil - it is no help to anyone to be Jewish but unsaved.

Romans 2:28 - 29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Excellent references, abundant truth. You get a gold star, my friend!

 

[RichGladden]

Yes, the blindness applies to all unbelievers.

But people bringing up the scriptures that say a blindness has happened to the Jewish people neglect that fact.

Its like Black lives matter. It seems like a right thing. But when you look at it its not. Its an exclusion to everyone else. Its racist. And thats the way the scriptures are being used that show a blindness has happened to the Jews.

Instead of realizing we are one in Christ Jesus, some people are STILL trying to show that there is a SPECIAL class of people and then there is the lower class. Its wrong and they refuse to see it.

An excellent concept comparing it to BLM, which begs the statement I made earlier about Christian's "virtue-signaling". We all know those that are ignorant of what scripture states, yet they think it is their Christian duty and bragging rights to donate to the rebuilding of the Temple Mount, which is only speeding up the rise of the Anti-Christ. It is like that is their main goal, but ignorant to the end thereof. And lacking understanding of the Blessing to Abraham and his seed, they support Israel as if doing so is some form of lottery.