Yes — Israel as a nation could not recognize Jesus because God placed a spiritual blindness upon them in response to their unbelief.
The Jewish people were looking for a king who would come with pomp and power, not a humble Messiah riding on a donkey. When Jesus came in the way He did, most of them rejected Him, and God sealed their rejection by blinding the nation spiritually. Les Feldick teaches that this blindness is temporary and that individual Jews can still be saved today.
Romans 11:7 — Paul states plainly that Israel did not obtain what it sought, the elect obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:10 — This verse quotes the curse that their eyes would be darkened, showing the spiritual blindness God brought upon Israel.
Romans 11 tells us that Israel did not obtain what they were seeking, but the elect did, and the rest were blinded (Romans 11:7). This blindness is described in the words of Scripture: "Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway" (Romans 11:10). Romans 11:25 further reveals that this blindness is partial and temporary: "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." In Acts 13:11, a Jewish sorcerer named Elimas is struck blind "for a season" as a picture of Israel's condition.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel was looking for a king who would ride in with pomp and power, probably on a great white stallion. Instead, their king came riding on a lowly donkey, and they missed it. They were ignorant of who He really was, and so they rejected and crucified Him (Clips 3, 4). Les emphasizes that this rejection was met with divine blindness. Just as Paul blinded Elimas the sorcerer for a season because he opposed the gospel going to the Gentiles, God set a spiritual blindness upon the nation of Israel because they opposed the gospel. This blindness has lasted to the present day, but it is not permanent (Clips 0, 6). Les also makes a distinction between the nation and the individual. Nationally, Israel is blinded, but an individual Jew has every opportunity to believe the gospel and be saved, just like a Gentile. The election—those few Jews who did believe—obtained what Israel was seeking, and the rest were blinded (Clips 2, 3, 4).
Les explains that Israel expected their Messiah to come as a king with pomp and power, riding on a great white stallion. Instead, Jesus came riding on a lowly donkey. This mismatch caused them to reject Him. Even though they should have known who He was, they were ignorant, and Paul says they did not obtain what they were looking for; the election did, and the rest were blinded (Clips 3, 4, 5).
Les points out that Elimas, a Jewish sorcerer, opposed Paul and Barnabas and tried to keep the Roman deputy from the faith. Paul then declared that Elimas would be blind for a season. Les sees this as a prophetic picture of the nation of Israel: they opposed the gospel going to the Gentiles, and God blinded them for a season, not forever. This is exactly what happened to Israel as a whole (Clips 0, 6).
Les teaches that God deals with the Jew on two levels: national and individual. Nationally, Israel is blinded, waiting for the return of their Messiah at the end of the Tribulation. But individually, a Jew today has every opportunity to believe the Gospel and be saved. The election—the believing Jews—did obtain what Israel sought, and the rest were blinded (Clips 2, 3, 4).
Les emphasizes that Israel’s blindness is not permanent. Just as Elimas was blinded only for a season, so Israel’s blindness has lasted a long time but will not last forever. When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, the blindness will be lifted, and the nation will be saved (Clips 0, 6).
Elimas as a Picture of Israel
Les shows that the temporary blinding of Elimas the sorcerer is a prophetic picture of the Jewish nation’s opposition to the gospel and its resulting seasonal blindness.
Israel’s Long Spiritual Blindness
Les explains that Israel has been under spiritual blindness for nearly 2,000 years, especially blind to the identity of Jesus as their Messiah.
National Blindness vs. Individual Opportunity
Les teaches that nationally Israel is blinded, but individual Jews have every opportunity to believe the Gospel and be saved.
The Donkey and the White Stallion
Les says Israel expected a king on a great white stallion, but Jesus came on a lowly donkey, causing them to miss who He was.
The Election Obtained, the Rest Blinded
Les explains that only a small remnant of believing Jews obtained what Israel sought, while the rest of the nation was blinded.
Ignorance Was the Cause
Les says Israel rejected Jesus because they were ignorant of who He was, but this ignorance was not an excuse — they should have known.
Blindness for a Season
Les compares Israel’s blindness to Paul’s temporary blinding of Elymas, showing that God’s blindness on Israel will not last forever.
Modern Jews and the Rejection of Christ
Les notes that many Orthodox Jews today refuse to admit that many Jews early on embraced Jesus as their Messiah, but the vast majority did reject Him.
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 verse directly states that Israel did not obtain what it sought and that the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:10: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
This verse is quoted by Paul to describe the spiritual blindness that God brought upon Israel.
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 verse reveals that Israel’s blindness is partial and temporary, lasting only until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
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.
This verse shows the temporary blinding of Elimas, which Les uses as a picture of Israel’s blindness.
Yes. Les teaches that the election—those few Jews who did believe—obtained what Israel was seeking, while the rest were blinded. Many Jews early on embraced Christ as their Messiah and Redeemer, though the vast majority rejected Him (Clips 3, 4, 7).
Yes, Les teaches that nationally Israel is blinded, but individually a Jew has every opportunity to believe the Gospel and be saved. God deals with the Jew on two levels: national and individual (Clip 2).
No. Les compares Israel’s blindness to that of Elimas, who was blinded only for a season. Israel’s blindness is also temporary and will end when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Clips 0, 6).
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Was Blinded — Acts 13 & Romans 11 Explained