Why were the Jewish believers in Jerusalem so needy and unsupported?
The Jewish believers in Jerusalem were destitute because they had no welfare system, and the Temple priesthood would not care for them since they had embraced Jesus of Nazareth, whom the religious leaders detested. Their only hope was the collection from Gentile believers, who owed material support because they had received Israel’s spiritual things.
Les explains that at this point Israel had not yet been totally set aside: the Temple was still operating and Israel was still in the land. These Jewish believers were destitute and had no welfare system, and the Temple priesthood certainly would not take care of them because they had embraced Jesus of Nazareth, whom the religious leaders detested. So they were in an island of need, and their only hope was the collection from Gentile believers sent to Jerusalem. Paul therefore says that if Gentiles have been made partakers of Israel’s spiritual things, they owe them carnal or material things.