" Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:/But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
God had determined before the worlds began and also spoken through his Prophet Isaiah,"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."(Is.9:2). Further down he connects it to the Prince of Peace "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." As the light of the world Jesus was particular the direction the doctrine of his Father should take. As the Savior of the world the fulness of God radiated from his Life and not from any geographical place. So it was upon them and not the land, the land of the shadow of death, 'hath the light shined.'
"The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel./And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria."(Is.9:1-8) Even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria were included within the ambit of his ministry. How come Jesus chose to send his disciples 'go rather to the lost sheep of Israel' and not Samaria?
We need look at this passage to understand why.
In the dialogue with the woman from Canaan (15:21-28) Jesus tried to put her off and said,"t is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." Her answer satisfied him. He said, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."(v.28) He was hoping to find the same quality among the lost sheep of Israel. Without it was a total mismatch as he had mentioned earlier: "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse./Neither do men put new wine into old bottles:.(9:16-17)
" Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:/But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
God had determined before the worlds began and also spoken through his Prophet Isaiah,"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."(Is.9:2). Further down he connects it to the Prince of Peace "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." As the light of the world Jesus was particular the direction the doctrine of his Father should take. As the Savior of the world the fulness of God radiated from his Life and not from any geographical place. So it was upon them and not the land, the land of the shadow of death, 'hath the light shined.'
"The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel./And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria."(Is.9:1-8) Even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria were included within the ambit of his ministry. How come Jesus chose to send his disciples 'go rather to the lost sheep of Israel' and not Samaria?
We need look at this passage to understand why.
In the dialogue with the woman from Canaan (15:21-28) Jesus tried to put her off and said,"t is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." Her answer satisfied him. He said, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."(v.28) He was hoping to find the same quality among the lost sheep of Israel. Without it was a total mismatch as he had mentioned earlier: "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse./Neither do men put new wine into old bottles:.(9:16-17)
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