Paul does not want believers to be ignorant of the mystery because it prevents them from being wise in their own conceits and reveals Israel's temporary blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
In Romans 11:25, Paul says "I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits." The mystery is that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be brought in (Romans 11:25). Les Feldick teaches that ignorance here is not a lack of intelligence but a lack of having been taught something. Paul wants believers to know this secret so they won't think arrogantly and so they understand that God is not finished with Israel.
Romans 11:25 — This is the exact verse where Paul says "I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery" and explains the mystery of Israel's partial blindness.
In Romans 11:25, Paul writes, "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." This verse directly answers the question: Paul explicitly says he does not want believers to be ignorant of this mystery, giving two key reasons—so they will not be wise in their own conceits, and so they understand that Israel's blindness is partial and temporary. The context of Romans 11 uses the analogy of grafting. Israel was the natural olive tree, but because of unbelief, God broke off the natural branches and grafted in the wild Gentile branches. Paul argues that if God could graft in the wild branches, it would be much easier for Him to graft the natural branches back in (Romans 11:24). The mystery Paul speaks of is that this blindness of Israel is not permanent but will last "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."
Les Feldick explains that the word "mystery" in Paul's writings refers to a secret that has been kept in the mind of God and never revealed anywhere in Scripture before. In Romans 11:25, the mystery is that blindness in part has happened to Israel, and that this blindness is temporary. Les stresses that Paul is writing to believers, and he does not want them to be ignorant of this truth. Les repeatedly stops at the word "ignorant" to clarify that ignorance is not a lack of brain cells or intelligence—it is a lack of having been taught something. A person may be intelligent and still know nothing about a particular subject. So Paul's concern is that believers learn what the Bible actually teaches rather than relying on assumptions or becoming wise in their own conceits. Les also emphasizes that this mystery had never been revealed in the Old Testament. While the Old Testament warned Israel that disobedience would bring chastisement, nowhere did God tell Israel that a day would come when they would be spiritually blinded. Understanding this mystery guards believers against arrogance and shows that God has not finished dealing with Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that the word "mystery" is unique to Paul's writings and refers to a secret that has been kept in the mind of God, not to be revealed until God saw fit. In Romans 11:25, the mystery is that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be brought in. This secret was never revealed anywhere in Scripture before Paul wrote it.
Les Feldick says that ignorance is not a lack of brain cells or intelligence; ignorance is a lack of having been taught something. He makes this point in the context of Romans 11:25, where Paul says, "I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery." Since Paul is writing to believers, he wants them to be taught and to understand this secret rather than remaining uninformed.
The mystery is that blindness in part has happened to Israel, and this blindness is not permanent. It will last until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in. Les explains that Israel has been spiritually blind for over 1,900 years, but the blindness is temporary. When the fullness of the Gentiles is complete, God will turn back to Israel. This was a secret never before revealed in Scripture.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul warns against believers thinking too highly of themselves. As the Gentiles have been brought in and Israel has been blinded, there is a danger that Gentile believers might become arrogant. Understanding the mystery helps guard against that attitude because it reveals that God is not finished with Israel and that Israel's blindness is only temporary.
Les Feldick uses the horticultural analogy of grafting to explain Romans 11. Israel is the native tree, but after years of rejecting God, God broke off the native branches and grafted in the wild Gentile branches. However, just as a horticulturist explained that he could later cut off the grafts and graft a native branch back in, God can easily restore Israel. If God could graft in a wild branch, He can more easily graft in the natural branches. This is connected to the mystery because it shows Israel's blindness is temporary and that God will graft Israel back in.
Les Feldick says that not anywhere in Scripture was it ever revealed that the nation of Israel would be sovereignly, judicially blinded by God for a long period of time. The Old Testament warned Israel that if they were disobedient, God would chastise them and bring in their enemies, but nowhere did God tell Israel that a day would come when they would be spiritually blinded. This is why Paul calls it a mystery—it was a secret kept in the mind of God until revealed through Paul.
Les Feldick explains that the fullness of the Gentiles refers to the body of Christ. As Gentiles are saved, they are placed into the body of Christ. The filling process continues until the body is complete. When that point is reached, Israel's blindness will end, and God will go back and pick up where He left off with Israel. This is the "until" factor in Romans 11:25.
Grafting Analogy and Israel's Future
Les uses a horticulturist's grafting example to show that God can easily restore Israel, the natural branches, just as Paul says in Romans 11.
Mystery as a Secret Kept in God's Mind
Les explains that the word mystery refers to a secret kept in the mind of God, not revealed until God saw fit.
Blindness in Part Until Fullness of the Gentiles
Les directly teaches that the mystery in Romans 11:25 is Israel's temporary spiritual blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles, which is the body of Christ, is brought in.
Secret Never Revealed Before
Les emphasizes that this mystery was a secret held in God's mind and never revealed before Paul wrote it—Israel would be blinded and Gentiles saved without Israel.
Sovereign Judicial Blinding of Israel
Les teaches that the core of the mystery is that God sovereignly and judicially blinded Israel, something nowhere else in Scripture revealed.
Ignorance Is Lack of Teaching
Les clarifies that ignorance is not a lack of intelligence but a lack of having been taught, which directly explains why Paul emphasizes not being ignorant.
Temporary Blindness Like Elimas
Les compares Israel's blindness to Elimas the sorcerer's temporary blindness, emphasizing that Israel's blindness is not permanent.
The Mystery Hidden From the Ages
Les explains that this mystery has been hidden from the beginning of the ages and that Paul was made a minister to make all men see its fellowship.
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.
This is the central verse answering why Paul emphasizes not being ignorant of the mystery—to prevent conceit and to reveal Israel's temporary blindness.
Romans 11:7: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Paul states that Israel was blinded, reinforcing the mystery of Israel's partial blindness.
Romans 11:24: For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Paul shows that since God grafted in wild Gentile branches, He can much more easily restore natural Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul does not mean a lack of intelligence or brain cells. Ignorance means having not been taught something. Paul wants believers to be taught and to learn this mystery so they understand it.
The mystery is that blindness in part has happened to Israel, and it is only temporary. Israel will be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in. Les Feldick explains this was a secret previously hidden in the mind of God.
Paul warns against believers thinking they are better than Israel. Understanding this mystery keeps believers humble and reminds them that God is not finished with Israel and will graft them back in.
Les Feldick says Israel's blindness has lasted over 1,900 years, but it is not permanent. It will end when the fullness of the Gentiles has been brought in.
Les Feldick says no. The Old Testament warned of chastisement for disobedience, but nowhere did God tell Israel they would be sovereignly blinded for a long period. That is why Paul calls it a mystery.
Watch the Teaching: Why Is Israel Blind? The Mystery of Romans 11 Explained