No — Israel did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah because spiritual blindness and ignorance prevented them from seeing what the Old Testament had plainly predicted.
Les Feldick explains that Israel could have known who Jesus was from the Old Testament but refused to search the Scriptures. The rulers of Israel and Rome did not know that He was the Son of God and Messiah; had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. This ignorance, along with the spiritual darkness that covered the nation, is why Israel missed their Messiah.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — States directly that the princes of this world did not know Jesus and would not have crucified Him if they had.
Romans 11:25 — Explains that blindness in part has happened to Israel, which is the cause of their failure to recognize Him.
Isaiah 60:1-2 — Shows the spiritual darkness covering the earth and Israel's intended role as the vessel of light.
According to Isaiah 60:1-2, the glory of the Lord was to rise upon Israel while darkness covered the earth. The prophecy pictures Israel as the vehicle of light, yet the people themselves were in spiritual darkness. First Corinthians 2:8 reveals that the rulers of this age did not know the hidden wisdom of God; had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Romans 11:25 states plainly that blindness in part has happened to Israel. In Acts 3:17, Peter told his Jewish audience that both they and their rulers acted through ignorance when they rejected Christ. The Scriptures also record that when Herod asked where the King of Israel was to be born, the religious leaders had to search the Old Testament and find the answer in Micah 5:2 — the prophecy that the Ruler in Israel would come from Bethlehem. Thus the knowledge was in the Book, but the hearts of the leadership were dark.
Les Feldick repeatedly emphasizes that Israel should have known who Jesus was. The Old Testament was full of prophecies about the Messiah, and the religious leaders were capable of finding them — but they did not study the Book. Les points to the visit of the wise men: when Herod asked where the King of Israel was to be born, the Jewish leaders did not know and had to go search the Scriptures; they found the answer in Micah. Les attributes their failure to unbelief and refusal to search the Scriptures (Clips 1, 2, 7). Les also teaches that spiritual blindness had fallen on the nation. He ties this to Isaiah 60: Israel was intended to be the vehicle through which God's light would shine into a dark world, but darkness instead covered the earth (Clip 0). In Paul's words, blindness in part has happened to Israel (Romans 11:25), and Les explains this as ignorance — they simply did not know who Jesus was (Clip 7). A central point in Les's teaching is 1 Corinthians 2:8: the princes of this world — both Jewish leaders and Rome — did not know Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel. If they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory (Clips 3, 4, 5). Les then notes that Peter used this ignorance as an "escape route" for the nation in Acts 3 — while Israel is guilty and still suffering, God's mercy is coming back (Clip 5). Les also points out that even Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ was not from flesh and blood, but by divine revelation (Clip 6), showing that recognition of the Messiah ultimately required God's opening of the understanding.
Yes, Les Feldick insists. The Old Testament was full of prophecies about the Messiah, and Israel should have known who Jesus was by studying it. When Herod demanded to know where the King of Israel was to be born, the Jewish leaders did not know offhand and had to search the Scriptures; only then did they find the prophecy in the book of Micah pointing to Bethlehem. Les says their failure was due to unbelief and a refusal to search the Scriptures (Clips 1, 2).
Les teaches that neither the leaders of Israel nor the Roman authorities knew that Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel. This was a matter of divine hidden wisdom, not just casual awareness of a man from Nazareth. Paul says the princes of this world did not know; if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. This was all part of God's eternal plan to purchase salvation (Clips 3, 4, 5).
Les points to Peter's confession as an example. When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus answered that flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, but His Father in heaven had. Les uses this to show that no one recognizes the Messiah by natural intelligence; God must open the understanding. Israel as a nation did not receive that revelation because of their unbelief (Clip 6).
Les does not say ignorance removes guilt. He says Israel was guilty of putting their Messiah to death and continues to suffer for it. But in Acts 3, Peter used their ignorance as an escape route for the nation, telling them that they and their rulers acted through ignorance. Les sees in this God's mercy, which will return to the nation (Clip 5).
Israel's Role as Light in Darkness
God intended Israel to be the vehicle of light, but the world was covered in spiritual darkness; this sets the backdrop for why Israel failed to recognize the Messiah.
Israel Could Have Known
Les explains that the Old Testament revealed Jesus, but Israel did not study it; even the priests had to search the Scriptures to tell Herod where the Messiah would be born.
Unbelief and Refusal to Search
Israel should have known, but they were unbelieving and refused to search the Scriptures; they only discovered Bethlehem after being asked by Herod.
The Princes Did Not Know
Les teaches that the Jewish and Roman rulers did not know Jesus was the Christ; had they known, they would not have crucified Him.
God's Hidden Wisdom
The hidden wisdom was that Jesus was the Son of God and Messiah; none of the rulers knew, and this was part of God's plan to purchase salvation.
Ignorance as an Escape Route
Peter used ignorance as an escape route for Israel in Acts 3; Israel is guilty and suffering, but God's mercy will return.
Recognition Requires Divine Revelation
Even Peter recognized Jesus only because the Father revealed it; flesh and blood did not do it.
Blindness in Part
Les explains that blindness and ignorance happened to Israel because they rejected the Messiah; they did not know who He was.
Isaiah 60:1-2: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Shows Israel's intended role as light bearer and the spiritual darkness of the world.
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.
States directly that the rulers did not know Jesus and would not have crucified Him if they had.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Reveals that blindness in part has happened to Israel.
Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The prophecy that should have told Israel and its leaders where the Messiah would be born.
Acts 3:17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Peter attributes the nation's rejection of Christ to ignorance.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus says Peter's recognition of Him as Messiah came by divine revelation, not human reasoning.
Yes. Les Feldick says the Old Testament was full of prophecies about Jesus, and Israel should have known. The Jewish leaders were able to find the correct answer in Micah 5:2 when Herod asked where the Messiah would be born, but they had to search the Scriptures because they had not studied them.
Les says they were unbelieving and refused to search the Scriptures. Even when Jesus came presenting Himself as King, they did not recognize Him because they had not studied the Old Testament prophecies. Their ignorance was part of God's sovereign plan, but it was still culpable.
Romans 11:25 says blindness in part has happened to Israel. Les explains this as spiritual blindness and ignorance — Israel rejected the Messiah because they did not know who He was. This blindness was not total or final, and God's mercy will return to the nation.
Watch the Teaching: The True Meaning of Israel as a "Peculiar People"