Jesus' Message to the Jewish People in the Gospels
Jesus' message, often referred to as the "gospel" or "good news," was initially proclaimed to the Jewish people, emphasizing the arrival of God's kingdom and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies [3, 5]. The term "gospel" itself translates from the Greek euaggelion, meaning "good message" or "good news" [4]. This message was not entirely new, as the concept of good tidings was foretold in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah [3, 11].
The core of Jesus' message to the Jewish people centered on the kingdom of God. Matthew's Gospel, for instance, presents Jesus as the "promised King of the kingdom of God" [5]. Jesus himself preached this "Gospel of the kingdom" throughout Judea [8]. This message was a first principle of the gospel, encompassing the idea of judgment and the revelation of God's righteous judgment [6]. It also highlighted the new covenant, which was made with Abraham and renewed with Israel, now fulfilled and confirmed in Christ [7]. John Gill notes that the time of the Messiah, or the Gospel dispensation, would see the Jews considering Old Testament prophecies and turning to Jesus [12].
However, Jesus also warned the Jewish leaders about the consequences of rejecting his message. He stated that "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you," addressing the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the people of the Jews who rejected the Messiah [10]. This indicates a shift in the administration of God's kingdom, moving away from those who refused to believe.
Despite this warning, the initial focus of the gospel remained with the Jewish people. Peter, in Acts, explicitly states that God "sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ" [1]. John Gill interprets this as the doctrine of the Gospel being sent first to the Jews through the apostles' ministry [13]. The message was intended for "those Jews who had believed him," urging them to remain in his word to truly be his disciples [2].
Over time, the scope of the gospel expanded beyond the Jewish nation. While the message was initially confined to Judea, Jesus' instructions indicated that it would eventually be "preached in all the world" [8]. This expansion is evident in the New Testament, where the salvation of God, meaning the Gospel, is explicitly sent to the Gentiles [9]. The prophet Isaiah also foretold this, calling on "peoples...nations" (Gentiles) to hear and rejoice in the extension of the true religion [11]. The apostle Paul, for example, made it known that "the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles" [9]. This transition from a primary focus on Israel to a universal proclamation is a significant development in the New Testament narrative.
Sources
- Acts “Acts 10:36 (BSB) — He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
- John “Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. -- John 8:31”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenant, The — Christ, the substance of -- Isa 42:6; 49:8. Christ, the Mediator of -- Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. Christ, the Messenger of -- Mal 3:1. Made with Abraham. -- Ge 15:7-18; 17:2-14; Lu 1:72-75; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 17:19,21; 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:13,14; 1Ch 16:16,17. Israel. -- Ex 6:4; Ac 3:25. David. -- 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:3,4. Renewed under the gospel -- Jer 31:31-33; Ro 11:27; Heb 8:8-10,13. Fulfilled in Christ -- Lu 1:68-79. Confirmed in Christ -- Ga 3:17. Ratified by the blood of Christ -- Heb 9:11-14,16-23. Is a covenant of peace -- Isa 54:9,10; ”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:14: And this Gospel of the kingdom,.... Which Christ himself preached, and which he called and sent his apostles to preach, in all the cities of Judah; by which means men were brought into the kingdom of the Messiah, or Gospel dispensation; and which treated both of the kingdom of grace and glory, and pointed out the saints' meetness for the kingdom of heaven, and their right unto it, and gives the best account of the glories of it: shall be preached in all the world; not only in Judea, where it was now confined, and that by the express orders of Christ himself; but i”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 28:28: Be it known therefore unto you,.... Unbelievers and despisers, take this along with you at parting, and do not say you were never acquainted with it: that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles; meaning the Gospel, which is a publication and declaration of that salvation, which God contrived from all eternity; made provision for, and secured in the covenant of grace; which he appointed, called, and sent Christ to effect, in the fulness of time; and which he has accomplished, by his obedience, sufferings, and death; even a full, complete, spiritual, and eterna”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 21:43: Therefore I say unto you,.... This is the application of the parable; and the words are directed to the chief priests, elders, scribes, and people of the Jews; and are delivered as what would be in consequence of the builders, rejecting the Messiah, the foundation and corner stone of the building, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you: by which is meant, not their political estate, their civil government, which was of God, and in a short time was to depart from them, according to ancient prophecy, and which is come to pass, as the event shows; nor their legal”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 51:4: my people--the Jews. This reading is better than that of GESENIUS: "O peoples . . . nations," namely, the Gentiles. The Jews are called on to hear and rejoice in the extension of the true religion to the nations; for, at the first preaching of the Gospel, as in the final age to come, it was from Jerusalem that the gospel law was, and is, to go forth (Isa 2:3). law . . . judgment--the gospel dispensation and institutions (Isa 42:1, "judgment"). make . . . to rest--establish firmly; found. light, &c.-- (Isa 42:6).”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:1: At the same time, saith the Lord,.... The time of the Messiah, the Gospel dispensation, the latter days; when the Jews shall consider the prophecies of the Old Testament, and observe how they have been fulfilled in Jesus; and shall reflect upon their disbelief and rejection of him; and shall turn unto him, and serve the Lord their God, and David their king; see Jer 30:9; will I be the God of all the families of Israel; not of some few persons only, or of one of a city, and two of a family, but of every family; and this will be when "all Israel" shall be converted ”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:36: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,.... Now the apostle enters on his sermon or discourse, of which the above were only a preface, or an introduction; and his sense is, that the doctrine which he was now about to preach to them, was the doctrine of the Gospel; which it pleased God, of his infinite wisdom and rich grace, to send first to the people of the Jews, by the ministry of the apostles: this word is sometimes called the word of God, of which he is the author; and the word of Christ, of which he is the sum and substance; and the word of salvation,”