Israel missed the Messiah because their ignorance of and unbelief in their own Scriptures left them blinded.
Israel had every advantage and opportunity to know God's will, but they did not search the Old Testament prophecies deeply enough. When their King came lowly on a donkey instead of with pomp and power, they rejected Him. Scripture says the rest were blinded, and Les Feldick emphasizes that the nation of Israel remains blind to who Jesus really was to this very day.
Romans 11:7 — Paul directly states that Israel did not obtain what it sought, only the election obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — Paul says the rulers of this world did not know Jesus as the Lord of glory, which is why they crucified Him.
Zechariah 9:9 — The Old Testament promised a lowly King riding on a donkey, the very picture of Jesus that Israel missed.
The Bible reveals that Israel possessed the prophetic record of the Messiah, yet the leaders still had to search when asked where the King would be born. When Herod asked about the King of the Jews, the chief priests and scribes replied that He would be born in Bethlehem of Judaea, according to the prophet (Matthew 2:4-6). The Old Testament had also promised a coming King who was lowly and riding upon a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Yet when Jesus came from Nazareth, Nathanael voiced the nation's attitude: 'Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?' (John 1:46). Paul later summarized the result in 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.' He also wrote that the princes of this world did not know the Lord of glory, for had they known Him, they would not have crucified Him (1 Corinthians 2:8). Paul called this a mystery: 'that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in' (Romans 11:25).
Les Feldick teaches that Israel should have known who Jesus was because everything necessary was already in the Old Testament. They had every opportunity and every advantage, yet they did not bother to study the prophecies in depth. When the wise men asked where the King of Israel would be born, even the priests had to search the Scriptures to find Bethlehem (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that Israel wanted a king who would come with pomp and power, probably on a great white Arabian steed, but their King came riding on a lowly donkey, and they missed Him (Clip 3). The majority rejected Him and were blinded; only a few recognized Him and became the elect (Clip 2). Les also stresses that Israel's rejection and crucifixion of Jesus was part of God's eternal plan to purchase salvation for all who would respond, and that God in His sovereignty never takes away the free will of men and nations (Clips 4, 7).
Les explains that every Jew was longing for the King, the Messiah, the Redeemer. They were looking for a king who would come in with pomp and power and circumstance, probably at least symbolically riding on a great white Arabian steed. Instead their King came riding on the colt of a donkey, and they missed it. Their response was, 'Does anything good come out of Nazareth?' The Old Testament had told them the King would come lowly and riding on a donkey, but they were not looking for that kind of King.
Les teaches that a few Jews recognized Jesus and became the elect. They obtained what they were looking for, as Paul says in Romans 11:7. The rest of the nation did not believe that He was the Christ, and the Book says they were blinded. Only the remnant of believing Israel received the promises.
Les teaches that the hidden wisdom of God included the fact that Christ was the Son of God, the Messiah, and the King of Israel, yet His own people rejected Him and crucified Him. This was all part of God's eternal plan for the ages, because it had to happen in order to purchase the salvation of every human being who would respond. Les also points out that although God is sovereign and in control of everything, He never takes away the free will of men and nations.
Les states that the majority of Israel could not believe that Jesus was the Christ, and they were blinded. He says that this is the nation of Israel to this very day—they are still blind to who Jesus really was. He also applies the same principle to America, noting that most people are ignorant of the Scriptures not because they lack capacity but because nobody has taught them.
Israel's Every Advantage and Judicial Unbelief
Les teaches that Israel had every opportunity to know God's will and all the things going for them, yet through unbelief and rebellion God judicially gave them up—just as He did the pagan nations.
The Priests Had to Look Up Bethlehem
Les uses the visit of the wise men to show that even the religious leaders did not know the Messiah's birthplace until they searched the Scriptures—proof that Israel did not bother to study the prophecies.
The Remnant Believed, the Rest Were Blinded
Les explains that the average Jew wanted a King, Messiah, and Redeemer, but only a few recognized Jesus; the majority rejected Him, and Scripture says the rest were blinded.
A King on a Donkey, Not a War Horse
Les says Israel expected a King with pomp and power on a great white horse, not the lowly Messiah riding on a donkey, so they missed Him—and Israel remains blind to Jesus to this day.
The Princes Did Not Know Him
Les emphasizes that the rulers of Israel and Rome did not know Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah; their ignorance and crucifixion of Christ were still part of God's eternal plan of salvation.
Israel Blew It
Les repeats that Israel should have known who Jesus was from their own prophetic program, but they rejected it and could not understand it.
Ignorance Because They Were Not Taught
Les uses Paul's statement about not being ignorant to explain that Israel's blindness was rooted in ignorance—they had the capacity to know but had not been taught the deeper truths of the Old Testament.
'You Would Not'
Les shows that Jesus came as the lowly King on the colt of a donkey and offered Israel the Kingdom, but they would not believe; even in sovereignty God never takes away human free will.
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.
This is the key verse showing that Israel as a whole missed the Messiah while the believing remnant obtained it and the rest were blinded.
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.
Paul explains that Israel's blindness is partial and has a set duration until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in.
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 supports the truth that the rulers did not recognize Jesus as the Lord of glory, which is why they crucified Him.
Matthew 2:5-6: And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
This shows the priests and scribes had to search the Scriptures to answer where the King of Israel would be born.
Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
The Old Testament prophesied that Israel's King would come lowly on a donkey—something the nation missed.
John 1:46: And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
This verse reflects the nation's skeptical, ignorant response to Jesus' humble origin.
Because they did not study and believe the Old Testament Scriptures. The priests had to search to find Bethlehem, and the nation was looking for a powerful king instead of a lowly Messiah on a donkey. Because of their unbelief, the rest were blinded.
Scripture says Israel did not obtain what it sought and the rest were blinded. Les explains that in response to their unbelief and rebellion, God judicially let them go deeper into blindness, just as He did the pagan nations in Romans 1.
Yes, a few recognized Jesus as the Messiah and became the elect. The majority rejected Him, and the rest were blinded, as Romans 11:7 says.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Was Blinded — Romans 11 Explained Verse by Verse