Israel's rejection and crucifixion of Jesus was committed in ignorance, and that ignorance is what opened the door for God's mercy rather than immediate national destruction.
Christ prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34), and Peter told Israel, 'through ignorance ye did it' (Acts 3:17). Les Feldick calls this ignorance 'God's loophole'—it allowed God to continue dealing with the nation in mercy and grace instead of destroying them.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — Directly states that the rulers of this world did not know who Jesus was, which is the core biblical basis for the mercy extended to Israel.
Scripture records that Jesus, while on the cross, prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). The nation of Israel was guilty of putting their Messiah to death, but the New Testament repeatedly emphasizes their ignorance. Peter told the men of Israel, 'And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers' (Acts 3:17). Stephen likewise prayed for his killers, asking that God not lay the sin to their charge, because they did not know what they were doing. Paul explains that the crucifixion was a result of ignorance: 'But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory' (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). The Old Testament also looks forward to Israel's future response to the One they pierced. Zechariah 12:10 says they 'shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him,' and Zechariah 13:6 speaks of 'wounds in thy hands' received 'in the house of my friends.' These verses reveal that Israel's relationship with the rejected Messiah will one day become one of mourning and reconciliation.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel's rejection and crucifixion of Jesus was an act of ignorance, and this ignorance is what God used as an 'escape route' or 'loophole' for the nation. He points out that Jesus prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,' and that Peter later said Israel acted 'through ignorance.' Les calls this 'God's loophole for the nation of Israel'—had they known who Jesus was and rejected Him anyway, God would have had no choice but to destroy them as a nation. Les emphasizes that Israel should have known who Jesus was from the Old Testament, yet they did not. He quotes 1 Corinthians 2:8 to show that the rulers of Israel and Rome did not know the Lord of glory. Because of their ignorance, God could continue dealing with them in mercy and grace. Les even says Israel is suffering to this day for rejecting their Messiah, but God's mercy will one day return to the nation. Les also draws attention to Stephen's prayer in Acts 7, which echoes Christ's own plea of 'they know not what they do.' This same recognition of ignorance opened the door for forgiveness both at the cross and during Israel's early history.
Christ's first words from the cross were, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). Les Feldick explains that Jesus was pleading the people's ignorance. Les calls this 'God's loophole' for the nation of Israel—because had they known who they were killing, God would have had to destroy the nation immediately.
Peter said to Israel, 'And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers' (Acts 3:17). Les Feldick says Peter was giving Israel an 'escape route.' He also points out that Stephen, when being stoned, said essentially the same thing—'forgive them for they know not what they do.' This plea of ignorance is what allowed the gospel to continue going to the nation of Israel with an offer of repentance.
Had Israel known Jesus was the Lord of glory, they would never have crucified Him. Les Feldick teaches that if Israel had rejected Jesus knowing who He was, God would have had to put the nation to death and destroy them. But because they did it in ignorance, God could continue to deal with them in mercy and grace.
Zechariah 12:10 says that God will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication, and Israel 'shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him.' Zechariah 13:6 speaks of one with wounds in his hands who answers, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.' Les uses these passages to show that Israel's future recognition of the crucified Messiah will produce mourning and repentance, not condemnation.
Zechariah's Prophecy of Israel's Mourning
Les points to Old Testament prophecies of Israel mourning over the One they pierced, showing a future national recognition of their rejection of the Messiah.
Paul's Statement on the Rulers' Ignorance
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 2:8 to show that neither the Jewish leaders nor Rome knew who Jesus was, and uses this as an 'escape route' for Israel.
God's Loophole for Israel
Les explains that Jesus' prayer for forgiveness and Peter's later words plead Israel's ignorance, calling it 'God's loophole' that kept the nation from immediate destruction.
Israel Should Have Known
Les stresses that Israel should have known from the Old Testament who Jesus was, yet they did not—this is why Jesus prayed for their forgiveness.
Had They Known, They Would Not Have Crucified
Les applies 1 Corinthians 2:8 to Israel's leaders, stating that if they had known Jesus' identity, they would never have crucified Him.
Peter and Stephen's Plea of Ignorance
Les points out that both Peter and Stephen rested on the same appeal—that the people acted in ignorance—and that this was why Jesus also asked forgiveness.
Ignorance Averts National Destruction
Les teaches that because Israel rejected Jesus in ignorance, God could continue dealing with them in mercy and grace instead of destroying the nation.
The Leaders Did Not Know Christ
Les illustrates from 1 Corinthians 2 that had the high priest, Pharisees, and even Pilate known the true identity of Jesus, they would never have cried for His death.
Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Jesus' first word from the cross directly pleads the ignorance of those who crucified Him.
Acts 3:17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Peter tells Israel that they and their rulers killed the Messiah in ignorance.
1 Corinthians 2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
Paul introduces the hidden wisdom that the rulers of this world did not understand.
1 Corinthians 2:8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
This verse explicitly states that the crucifixion happened because the rulers did not know who Jesus was.
Zechariah 12:10: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Prophecy of Israel's future mourning when they recognize the Messiah they pierced.
Zechariah 13:6: And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
A reference to the wounds of the crucified Messiah and Israel's connection to them.
Les Feldick says he thinks Israel is suffering for it to this very day. He also says that God's mercy will eventually come back on the nation, pointing to the principle of ignorance as the basis for continued mercy.
Les explains that both were pleading the people's ignorance. Jesus prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,' and Peter said, 'through ignorance ye did it.' Stephen likewise asked God not to lay the sin to their charge, because they did not know what they were doing.
No. 1 Corinthians 2:8 says the princes of this world did not know, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Les says Israel could have known from the Old Testament, but they did not, and that ignorance is what made forgiveness possible.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected Their Messiah — Acts 7 & Joseph Explained