Why don’t Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?

If Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, why don’t Jews accept Him?

Good question. 

But the word of God answers that one. 

“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.” Romans 11:25

In part…

What does that mean?  It can mean that some (or part) of the Jews accept Jesus.  In fact, all of the first Christians in Jerusalem were Jews, not to mention the Apostles.

It can also mean that part of the reason that the Jew don’t accept Jesus is because the fullness of the Gentiles (the Church) hasn’t come in yet.

I think it is both.  And I think that they continue to be the Elder Son of the prodigal son parable… believing that they can earn God’s love or that they have to keep the law to be worthy.

But God was very clear that He would use us to provoke Israel to desire God…

“But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:18-21

God wants His chosen people to be with Him.  And one day, when Jesus returns… those who are truly His people, those who truly love Him… will receive Him and believe on Him and be saved.

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:26-27

You might ask, “If they have been denying Jesus all this time and bad mouthing Him why would they get that chance?”

Let’s ask Jesus.  What, Lord, would you say of this?

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.” Matthew 12:32

So I guess the answer to the question as to why Jews don’t accept Jesus is because they don’t see Him.

Maybe if we as Christians started acting more like Him to them they would.

SDG