Jesus Was Sent To Israel -- What Does That Tell Us About The Mission to the Gentiles?
John's email of August 14, 2012 says:
Jesus is our Lord, I have never found any contradictions in the bible yet. Mat.15:24 is a question for you.
My Reply
John
How is Matt 15:24 a question for me? It reads:
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
At the same time, Isaiah said the Gentiles have seen a great light. And Jesus taught in His last words to the apostles:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20 NIV)
So Jesus gave the original Apostles the task of making disciples of all "nations" (which in Hebrew would be Gentiles), and to "teach them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Hence, while Jesus was sent to Israel, Jesus sent the original apostles (which means "messenger" in Greek) to the Gentiles to make them disciples and teach all His commands pre-Ascension. Jesus did not contemplate any post-Ascension commands coming from anyone but the original apostles pre-Ascension.
Do you read this differently?
D
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