Wasn't the Messiah Sent Only to the Jews?
- Injil4you
- Mar 16
- 2 min read
In the Injil, Jesus' words might indeed suggest this. He said:
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (The Injil, Matthew 15.24).
Indeed, during his lifetime, it was rare for Jesus to address Gentiles. But he did, and even performed several miracles on their behalf. In fact, it was this strange statement by the Messiah that led him to heal the daughter of a pagan woman, praising her for her great faith (15.28) !
Would Jesus be inconsistent with himself? Obviously not: the problem lies not with Jesus, but with our interpretation, which needs to be nuanced. For he also said:
“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (The Injil, John 10.16).
This woman mentioned in Matthew was one of the very first Gentile sheep to join the Messiah's flock – just a little ahead of time. But why did it take time for this reunited flock to be formed? And when was it to happen?
The key lies in an event that was to change everything, at the end of Jesus' earthly life. An overwhelming event that goes to the very heart of his mission! And it was once this mission had been accomplished that Jesus was able to say to his disciples:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (The Injil, Matthew 28.19).
The Messiah lived among his people and for his people, but his mission was indeed for “all nations”. His tremendous work concerns us all today: Jews or non-Jews, Christians or Muslims: discover it without delay! Read the Injil.
