Question:
I’ve wondered why the Jews had such hatred for the new doctrine of Christianity. They treated Paul (one of their own) terribly.
Answer:
The Jews, though looking for the long-promised Messiah, refused to accept Him when He came. Probably the most obvious reason for their rejecting Christ was that they were looking for a king, one who would come in pomp and power, not be born as a baby.
There is also the issue of the law of Moses, to which the Jews adhered meticulously. The law which Jesus taught was a law far deeper, and not to the liking of the majority of Jews. For instance, a person might harbor hatred for another, but as long as he did not harm another outwardly, he was not a law breaker. Christ’s law required the heart to be right as well as the actions, hence, “ Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). The Jews were content with their outward form, comfortable in their ignorance, not concerned about their salvation. When Jesus came to rescue them from these false concepts, they would not listen.
But before we blame the Jews for rejecting Christ, let us realize that the Gentiles are no different. While proclaiming Christ loud and long, they reject His vital message of obedience, giving little heed to Jesus’ own words, “ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
But before we blame the Jews for rejecting Christ, let us realize that the Gentiles are no different. While proclaiming Christ loud and long, they reject His vital message of obedience, giving little heed to Jesus’ own words, “ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).