Where in the Bible did Jesus tell His disciples not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans?
The command is recorded in Matthew 10:5-6. There Jesus sent out the twelve and commanded them, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Les explains that this command is often overlooked but is plainly in Scripture. In Matthew 10:5, Jesus sent forth the twelve and commanded them not to go in the way of the Gentiles or enter any city of the Samaritans, but to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les says the reason is that since Abraham's covenant, God was dealing only with His covenant people, Israel—promising them a nation, a geographical promised land, and one day their King and Messiah. He notes some people were shaken by this emphasis and objected that Jesus came to the whole world, but he points to Matthew 10 as proof, then turns to Ephesians 2.
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:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
More Questions
Did Jesus command His disciples to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans?
When Jesus sent forth the twelve, He commanded them, not suggested, to go not into the way of the Gentiles and to not enter any city of the Samaritans.
Why did Jesus send His disciples only to Israel and not to the Gentiles?
The reason Jesus limited the mission to Israel is that all the way back from Abraham's covenant, God has been dealing only with His covenant people, Israel.
Who were the Samaritans that Jesus told the twelve not to enter?
The Samaritans were half-breeds, so Jesus excluded their cities from the twelve's mission.
Where else did Jesus say His ministry was only to the lost sheep of Israel?
Jesus had already stated this same limitation of His ministry earlier in Matthew 10, and He repeats it here in Matthew 15.
What did Jesus tell the twelve disciples about preaching to Gentiles and Samaritans?
Jesus gave the twelve clear-cut instructions not to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any Samaritan city.