God sovereignly placed a partial, temporary blindness on Israel until His work with the Gentiles is complete.
Romans 11:25 calls this a mystery: "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Les Feldick stresses that this blindness is not permanent - it has already lasted more than 1,900 years, but one day Israel's eyes will be opened.
Romans 11:25 — This is the verse that directly answers why Israel is blind: blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
Paul writes in 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." The "until" makes the blindness a limited condition rather than an eternal one. In Romans 11:7 Paul adds, "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." Then Romans 11:10 applies the language of judicial blindness to Israel: "Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."
Les Feldick explains that Israel's blindness was a secret kept in the mind of God and not revealed until Paul laid it out in Romans 11. It is a sovereign, time-bound condition: while God has spent more than 1,900 years calling out Gentiles, Israel has been spiritually blinded, yet the blindness is only "in part" - it is not forever, but for a segment of time. Les uses Paul's encounter with Elymas the sorcerer on Cyprus as a picture: as Elymas was blinded for a season, so Israel has been blinded for a season. One day, when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and God has finished His work with the Gentiles, the blindness will be lifted from Israel and her spiritual eyes will be opened.
Les says Isaiah had already said Israel's table would be made a snare and that they would be blind and have ears that would not hear, but that was never tied to a period of time in which God would turn to the Gentiles. That time-bound aspect was a secret kept in the mind of God until Paul laid it out in Romans 11.
No. Romans 11:25 says the blindness is "in part" and lasts only "until" the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Les repeatedly says it is not a final thing; it is for a season, even though that season has already been more than 1,900 years. One day Israel's spiritual eyes will be opened.
Les explains that the time-word "until" points to God's program. The blindness will last until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in - or, as Les puts it, until God has finished His work with the Gentiles. At that point the blindness will be lifted from Israel, and then "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26).
Paul's encounter with Elymas on Cyprus gives a picture of Israel. Les says Paul gave Elymas a blindness that lasted only for a season, and that is exactly what has happened to the nation of Israel. It is a temporary blindness, not a permanent one.
Les points to the word "until" and explains that "in part" means Israel's blindness is not forever, but for a segment of time in God's program. Romans 11:7 also shows that the election obtained what Israel sought while the rest were blinded. The blindness is a national condition with a limit.
Israel's Blindness & the Fullness of the Gentiles — Romans 11:25
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Mystery of Israel's Blindness
Les explains that Israel's time-bound blindness was a secret kept in God's mind and not revealed anywhere else in Scripture until Paul revealed it in Romans 11.
Elymas's Temporary Blindness as a Pattern
Les compares Elymas being blinded for a season to national Israel's temporary blindness, which has already lasted more than 1,900 years but will end.
Israel's Blinding Is for a Season, Not Forever
Les uses Paul's Acts 13 encounter to show that Israel has been blinded for a season, not forever, and will one day see again.
Romans 11:25 and the Fullness of the Gentiles
Les connects "blindness in part" to the time-word "until" and shows it will lift when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
The Time Frame for Israel's Blindness
Les explains that the blindness is "in part, not forever," lasting until God has finished His work with the Gentiles, followed by all Israel being saved.
Elymas and Jewish Opposition
Les says the season-limited blindness Paul placed on Elymas pictures Israel's condition throughout the early missionary journeys.
Israel Still Blind Today
Les says Israel has spent the last 1,900-plus years in spiritual blindness and, despite religious practice of Judaism, is blind to the truth of Messiah.
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.
The central verse where the Bible directly says blindness has happened to Israel and ties its duration to the fullness of the Gentiles.
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.
Shows that while the election obtained what Israel sought, the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:10: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Applies the Old Testament language of darkened eyes and bowed back to Israel's present condition.
Acts 13:11: And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
The temporary blinding of Elymas functions in Les's teaching as a picture of Israel's temporary national blindness.
No. Romans 11:25 says blindness in part has happened to Israel "until" the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Les stresses that this is for a season, not a final condition, although it has already lasted more than 1,900 years.
Les explains it was a secret kept in the mind of God. Isaiah had said Israel would be blind and their table made a snare, but the Old Testament never connected that blindness to the period of time when God would turn to the Gentiles. Paul reveals this time-bound aspect in Romans 11.
When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and God has finished His work with the Gentiles. Then Les says the blindness will be lifted from Israel and all Israel shall be saved.
Les understands "in part" as meaning not forever, but for a segment of time in God's program. The blindness is a national condition with a limit, and Romans 11:7 also shows the election obtained what Israel sought while the rest were blinded.
Watch the Teaching: Israel's Blindness & the Fullness of the Gentiles — Romans 11:25