Israel did not attain righteousness because they pursued it by works of the law instead of by faith.
Les Feldick shows from Romans that Israel was ignorant of God's righteousness and tried to establish their own righteousness by law-keeping, feasts, and sacrifices—all without faith. Because without faith it is impossible to please God, they did not enter into rest (Hebrews 3:19; 11:6). The only way to righteousness is through faith in Christ, who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 9:31-32 — This passage directly asks why Israel, which followed the law of righteousness, did not attain it—because they sought it not by faith.
Romans 10:3 — Paul explains that Israel was ignorant of God's righteousness and tried to establish their own, which is why they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Paul asks the question in Romans 9:31-32: "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law." In Romans 10:3 he adds, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." In Romans 11:7 Paul concludes, "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." The writer of Hebrews identifies the root cause: "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19). "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Les Feldick points out that Israel was constantly turning back in unbelief, beginning especially at Kadesh Barnea. He emphasizes that the nation had never opened their thinking to understand what the Book said, so they were ignorant of God's righteousness. They went about to establish their own righteousness by doing things—Law, Feast Days, sacrifices—but leaving faith out of the picture. Even though they followed the Law to the letter, without faith it is impossible to please God. God's constant controversy with Israel was their unbelief; they would not believe Him despite all He had done in visible manifestation of His power. Les also notes that under the Law Israel had to have faith plus doing what the Law demanded—they could not get by with faith plus nothing. The promise came through the righteousness of faith, not through the Law. Now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested by faith in Jesus Christ unto all who believe. Christ was the object of faith Israel was expected to embrace; He fulfilled over 360 prophecies, but they did not know their Bible and missed Him. As Paul says, Israel never obtained what it sought; they were looking for the king and the kingdom but rejected it in unbelief.
Rather than resting in faith, Israel tried to establish their own righteousness by religious activity. Paul says they were going about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). Les notes that they kept the Feast Days, followed the sacrifices, and followed the Law to the letter, but with no faith (Clip 6). Under the Law, Israel had to have faith plus doing what God said, but the Law still demanded doing (Clip 4).
Les identifies Israel's root problem as unbelief. God's constant controversy with the nation was that they would not believe Him, even after all He had done for them in visible manifestation of His power (Clip 2). Because of unbelief, they could not enter into His rest (Hebrews 3:19). Les also points to Kadesh Barnea as the beginning of this repeated pattern of turning back in unbelief (Clip 0). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Paul concludes in Romans 11:7 that Israel "hath not obtained that which he seeketh for." Les explains that throughout the Old Testament Israel was looking for the king and the kingdom. They missed it when it came because they rejected it in unbelief (Clip 7). What they sought could only be obtained by faith in Christ, who is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4).
Israel's Pattern of Unbelief
Les teaches that Israel was constantly turning back in unbelief, beginning especially at Kadesh Barnea, and only the remnant kept the nation from being destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ignorant of God's Righteousness
Les teaches that Israel never opened their thinking to understand the Book; they were ignorant of God's righteousness and tried to establish their own by works, leaving faith out.
Unbelief, Not Lack of Ability
Les teaches that Israel's problem was not lack of evidence but unbelief: they would not believe God, and without faith they could not enter into rest or please God.
Righteousness by Faith, Not Law
Les teaches that the righteousness of God is now manifested without the law through faith in Jesus Christ, not by law-keeping or religious activity.
Faith Plus Doing Under Law
Les teaches that under the Law Israel could not get by with faith plus nothing; the Law demanded doing, though prompted by faith.
Promise Through Righteousness of Faith
Les teaches that the promise did not come through the Law, which was a yoke of bondage, but through the righteousness of faith.
Ritual Without Faith
Les teaches that Israel kept feasts and sacrifices and the Law to the letter but without faith, making it impossible to please God, and they failed to recognize Christ as the fulfillment of over 360 prophecies.
Israel Missed What They Sought
Les teaches that Israel never obtained what they were seeking—the king and the kingdom—because they rejected it in unbelief.
Romans 9:31-32: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
This is the core passage directly answering why Israel did not attain righteousness.
Romans 10:3: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Paul states that Israel's own effort to establish righteousness ignored the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Les emphasized that Christ, not the Law, is the source of righteousness for all who believe.
Romans 11:7: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Paul confirms that Israel did not obtain what it was seeking.
Hebrews 3:19: So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Les referenced this verse as the reason Israel did not enter into rest.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This verse grounds Israel's failure in their lack of faith.
Isaiah 1:9: Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Les quotes this verse to show that only the remnant preserved Israel.
Romans 3:21-22: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
Les points to this passage to show righteousness is now revealed apart from the Law, through faith in Christ.
Because they sought it not by faith but by the works of the law. They were ignorant of God's righteousness and tried to establish their own, so they did not submit to God's righteousness (Romans 9:31-32; 10:3).
No. Les Feldick teaches that Israel kept the Feast Days, sacrifices, and the Law to the letter, but without faith it was impossible to please God. Their ritual counted for nothing because trust was absent.
Les explains from Romans 11:7 that Israel never obtained what they sought. Throughout the Old Testament they were looking for the king and the kingdom, but they rejected it in unbelief when it came.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. It is not by law-keeping or works, but by faith in Christ's finished work.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained