Israel rejected the Messiah because they did not know who He was.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel should have known and could have known that Jesus was the Messiah because the Old Testament was full of prophecy about Him. They refused to search the Scriptures, though, and so they did not know. Peter later told Israel that they and their rulers acted through ignorance, and Paul wrote that had the princes of this world known the Lord of glory, they would not have crucified Him.
Acts 3:17 — Peter tells Israel plainly that they rejected Christ through ignorance.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — Paul says the rulers of this world did not know the Lord of glory, or they would not have crucified Him.
The Bible directly addresses Israel's rejection of the Messiah. 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). Paul attributed the crucifixion to this same ignorance: "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 2:8). Paul also revealed that "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25). The Old Testament had clearly pointed to the Messiah's birthplace, as Micah wrote: "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" (Micah 5:2).
Les Feldick's consistent answer is that Israel did not know who Jesus was. He says Israel should have known and could have known, because the Old Testament was full of Him. But they refused to search the Scriptures; they were unwilling to listen and learn. Les uses the wise men's visit as an example: when Herod asked the priests where the King of Israel was to be born, they had to dig into the Old Testament before they found it in Micah. They should have known it right off the top of their head. Les also emphasizes Peter's statement that Israel acted through ignorance, and Paul's words that the princes of this world did not know the Lord of glory or they would never have crucified Him. Yet Les warns, "Don't jump all over the Jew for their ignorance." He also puts the rejection into God's plan: when Israel rejected the Messiah, God began calling out the Body of Christ, and after the Church is complete He will return to Israel.
Les Feldick says the Old Testament was full of Christ and the information was plain as day. Israel could have known who He was if they had just studied the book, but they did not. When the wise men asked Herod where the King of the Jews was born, even the priests had to search the Old Testament to find that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Les says they should have known this without having to look it up.
Peter told Israel, "And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers" (Acts 3:17). Les points out that they did not know who Jesus was, and that is why they rejected Him. Paul wrote the same thing about the rulers of the world: had they known Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8).
No. Les teaches that the rejection of the Messiah was all part of God's eternal plan. The wisdom of God was ordained before the world, and His own people's crucifixion of Christ was used to purchase salvation. When Israel rejected the Messiah, God went to the Church age to call out the Body of Christ, and that Body must be completed before the rapture.
Les notes that every Jew, deep down, longed for the King, the Messiah, and the Redeemer. A few recognized Jesus, but the majority rejected Him. Paul says that those who could not believe that He was the Christ were blinded, and Romans 11:25 says blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
God Turns to the Church
Les says that when Israel rejected the Messiah, God set Israel aside and turned to calling out the Body of Christ, which must be completed before the rapture.
Israel Refused to Search the Scriptures
Israel should have known from the Old Testament, plain as day, but they refused to search the Scriptures; even the priests had to look up Micah when Herod asked where the King was to be born.
The Majority Rejected and Were Blinded
Only a few Jews recognized Jesus as the Messiah; the majority rejected Him, and those who could not believe were blinded, according to Scripture.
The Princes Did Not Know Him
Neither the princes of Israel nor Rome knew Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, and His rejection and crucifixion were part of God's eternal plan.
Peter's Charge: Through Ignorance
Peter told Israel that they and their rulers acted through ignorance; Les says Israel should have known and could have known, but they did not, so they rejected Him.
Unwillingness to Listen or Learn
Israel could have known if they had studied the book, but they did not want to listen or learn; their problem was unwillingness, not lack of ability.
The Rulers Did Not Know the Lord of Glory
Had the rulers of Israel known who Jesus was, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; they killed Him because they did not know Him.
Israel Should Have Known but Did Not
Les repeats that Israel should have known from the Old Testament, but because they did not study it they did not know, and he warns against harshly judging the Jew for their ignorance.
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.
This verse plainly predicted the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, the very information the priests had to search for when Herod asked them.
Acts 3:17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Peter directly tells Israel that their rejection of Christ, including the rulers' part, was done in ignorance.
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.
Paul states that the ignorance of the rulers was the reason the Lord of glory was crucified.
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 reveals that Israel's blindness is not total and not final, but is in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Les Feldick says Israel should have known because the Old Testament was full of prophecies about the Messiah. But they refused to search the Scriptures and were unwilling to listen and learn, so when He came they did not recognize Him. Peter said they acted in ignorance, and Paul said the rulers did not know the Lord of glory.
When Herod asked where the King of Israel was to be born, the priests and scribes did not immediately know. They had to look into the Old Testament, where they found in Micah that He would be born in Bethlehem. Les says they should have known it without having to search because it was so clearly revealed.
No. Les teaches that God is not through with the Jew. When Israel rejected the Messiah, God turned to calling out the Body of Christ, but after the Church is complete God will return to Israel and keep His covenant promises to them.
Watch the Teaching: What Triggers the Rapture? Romans 11:25 Explained Verse by Verse