No, Jesus did not command the Twelve to preach to the Gentiles; He specifically commanded them to avoid the Gentiles and go to the lost sheep of Israel.
In Matthew 10:5-6, after choosing the Twelve, Jesus told 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 Feldick emphasizes that this was not bigotry on Jesus' part; it was because the time for a Gentile mission had not yet come, and Jesus was fulfilling the promises made to Israel through Abraham.
Matthew 10:5-6 — This is the direct command Jesus gave the Twelve, explicitly forbidding a Gentile mission.
Matthew 15:24 — Jesus states His own earthly mission is to Israel, confirming the restricted program.
Acts 1:8 — This post-resurrection commission is often compared with Matthew 10, but Les uses it to show the Twelve never went to the nations.
In Matthew 10:5-6, after Jesus chose the Twelve, He gave them their marching orders in plain language: "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." The command was not to preach to Gentiles, but to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus repeated the same boundary when a Canaanite woman asked for help: "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). After His resurrection, Acts 1:8 records Jesus saying, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Les Feldick says Jesus was not being bigoted when He commanded the Twelve not to go to the Gentiles. Jesus had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not yet time. Jesus came to fulfill the promises made all the way back to Abraham, and so He commanded the Twelve to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les emphasizes that the Twelve never had a ministry among the Gentiles. He says they stayed in Jerusalem, and even the believing Jews scattered by persecution preached to none but Jews. Les challenges anyone: "You show me one time in Scripture that those twelve disciples had a ministry among Gentiles. They didn't." This was because Israel never accepted the King, so that opportunity was taken from them. Les also addresses the "Great Commission" in Matthew 28. He says Peter and the eleven did not go into all the world, and they were not remiss; they knew their theology. It was not for them to go to the ends of the earth under the covenant until they had the King. After Israel's rejection, God raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Les says Jesus fully understood the situation. He was not being bigoted; He had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not time. Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, and He commanded the Twelve not to go to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Because Israel never accepted the King, that Gentile opportunity was taken from them. Les also explains that under the covenant, the Twelve were not to go to the ends of the earth until they had the King.
Les says no. The Twelve stayed in Jerusalem, and even the believing Jews scattered by persecution preached to nobody but Jews. They had no idea that God was going to go to a Gentile; it was anathema to them. Les has challenged people for 20 years to show one time in Scripture where the twelve disciples had a ministry among Gentiles, and says they never did. Peter confined his ministry to the Jew, and when Gentiles began to be reached, God raised up a separate apostle, Paul, for that work.
Les addresses the common assumption that Matthew 28's command sent the twelve into all the world. He says Peter and the eleven did not do it, and they were not remiss. They knew their theology better than most people do today: it was not for them to go to the ends of the earth preaching the gospel under the covenant until they had the King. Israel rejected the King, so that opportunity was taken from them.
Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained
we have to use references as much as possible to see that all of Scripture agrees. We're not just picking up a verse here and there in order to build some ideas, but all of Scripture will substantiate hopefully what we're teaching. Back in Acts chapter 9, after that experience on the road to Damascus of course, God always works both ends to the middle, and while He's working on Old Saul outside th…
The Twelve Stayed with a Jewish-Only Message
Les shows that after Christ left, the Twelve stayed in Jerusalem and scattered believers preached to none but Jews, having no idea God would go to Gentiles.
Jesus' Purpose and the Lost Sheep of Israel
Les explains that Jesus was not bigoted; He had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not time, and so He commanded the Twelve to go only to Israel.
The Twelve Never Went to the Nations
Les challenges anyone to show a Gentile ministry of the twelve disciples, saying they never did because Israel rejected the King.
Paul Replaces the Restricted Ministry
Les contrasts Christ's earthly ministry, confined to Israel with only two exceptions, with Paul's later apostleship 'for obedience to the faith among all nations.'
Explicit Command in Matthew 10
Les reads Matthew 10:5-6 directly: Jesus commanded the Twelve, 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles... but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'
Peter's Ministry Stayed Jewish
Les notes that Peter confined his ministry to the Jew while God raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles.
The Great Commission and the Missing King
Les says Peter and the eleven did not fulfill the Great Commission, but they were not remiss because it was not for them to go until they had the King.
Matthew 10:5-6: 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.
This is the direct command Jesus gave the Twelve during His earthly ministry, explicitly forbidding a Gentile mission.
Matthew 15:24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus states His own earthly mission is to Israel, confirming the restricted program.
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
This post-resurrection commission is often compared with Matthew 10, but Les uses it to show the Twelve never went to the nations.
Romans 1:5: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Les contrasts the limited ministry to Israel with Paul's later apostleship among all nations.
Les says yes — Jesus was not being bigoted. He had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not yet time. Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to Israel through Abraham, so He commanded the Twelve to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Les says they stayed in Jerusalem, and the scattered believing Jews preached to none but Jews. They had no idea that God was going to go to a Gentile, and Israel's rejection of the King had closed that opportunity.
Les says no. Although Matthew 28 says to go into all the world, Peter and the eleven did not do that, and they were not remiss because under the covenant program it was not for them to go until they had the King.
According to Les, after God set Israel aside, He raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles. The prophetic program had begun to fall through the cracks as Israel rejected it, and the Gentile assembly was coming up.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained