Jesus deliberately directed His ministry and the twelve to the nation of Israel because the promises of the Abrahamic covenant were being offered to Israel first.
Jesus commanded the twelve not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans but only to the lost sheep of Israel. Les Feldick explains that this was covenant ground: from Abraham onward God dealt with Israel as His covenant people, and the kingdom offer belonged to them. The time for the Gentiles would come later, after Israel as a nation rejected the gospel.
Matthew 10:5-6 — Jesus explicitly commands the twelve to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans and go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus commanded the twelve, 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' He reaffirmed this same limitation in Matthew 15:24: 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' The book of Romans shows the eventual widening of the gospel, for Paul writes in Romans 1:16 that it is 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.'
Les Feldick explains that Jesus' ministry was confined to Israel because God had been dealing only with His covenant people since Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant promised Israel that they would become a nation, possess the promised land, and one day receive their King and Messiah. When Jesus sent out the twelve, He was operating on covenant ground and the offer of the kingdom was going to Israel. Les repeatedly describes this period as 'Jew only, with exceptions' — the exceptions being the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman. He also teaches that after Israel rejected the gospel, God set Israel aside and turned to the Gentiles through the apostle Paul, moving from 'Jew only' to 'all nations.'
Les acknowledges two exceptions to Jesus' Jewish-focused ministry: the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman. In the case of the Canaanite woman, Jesus initially ignored her, and the twelve said to send her away because she was a Gentile. These exceptions are noted by Les as exactly that — exceptions to the overriding pattern that the kingdom promises were being offered to Israel.
After Israel as a nation rejected the gospel, Paul announced that he would turn to the Gentiles. Les explains that for the last 1,900 years the gospel has gone primarily to the Gentiles. This was not a contradiction but a change in God's dealings: God set Israel aside and sent Paul to bring about 'obedience to the faith among all nations.'
Les teaches that the command to go to the lost sheep of Israel was not random or prejudiced. Since the Abrahamic covenant, God had been dealing only with His covenant people Israel, promising to make them a nation, place them in the promised land, and one day send their King. When Jesus sent out the twelve, He was stepping onto covenant ground: the offer of the kingdom was going out to the nation to whom the promises had been made.
Jesus' Command Fulfilled Abrahamic Promises
Les shows that the command to go to the lost sheep of Israel was in fulfillment of the promises made to Israel through the Abrahamic covenant.
God's Covenant People Israel
Since Abraham, God dealt only with His covenant people Israel, making them a nation, putting them in the land, and promising to come as their King.
Exceptions and the Later Turn to Gentiles
Jesus' ministry was to Israel only with two exceptions; later God set Israel aside and sent Paul to all nations.
Covenant Ground
The restriction to Israel was not prejudice; it was because Jesus was operating on covenant ground established with Abraham.
Lost Sheep of Israel
Les reads Matthew 10:5-6 in plain language: go not to Gentiles or Samaritans, but to the lost sheep of Israel, and then points to the Canaanite woman as a test case.
Jew First, Then Greek
Paul began in Jewish synagogues because Israel were the covenant people steeped in Scripture; after national rejection, he announced the turn to the Gentiles.
Exceptions Confirmed
Les confirms that Jesus confined His ministry to Israel except for the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman, and cites Acts 11:19 showing that early believers preached only to Jews.
Jew Only, With Exceptions
Les summarizes the 2,000-year period from Abraham to Christ as 'Jew only, with exceptions,' and reminds that Jesus sent the twelve nowhere but to Israel.
Matthew 10:5: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Jesus commands the twelve to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans.
Matthew 10:6: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The direct command to go to Israel only.
Matthew 15:24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus states the limitation of His own mission.
Romans 1:5: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Paul's apostleship was for obedience to the faith among all nations, not Israel only.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel was intended for the Jew first, but also for the Greek.
Because God's covenant promises from Abraham were being offered to Israel. Jesus commanded the twelve to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and Les Feldick points out that this was covenant ground. The time for the Gentiles came later, after Israel as a nation rejected the gospel.
Yes, the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman. In the Canaanite woman's case, Jesus even initially ignored her, and the disciples said to send her away because she was a Gentile. These were exceptions to the general rule that His ministry was to Israel.
After Israel's rejection of the gospel, Paul announced 'from henceforth we go to the Gentiles.' Les explains that for the last 1,900 years the gospel has primarily gone to the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Who Goes Into the Kingdom? What the Bible Really Says