ISRAELITISH SERPENTS AND GENTILE DOGS
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
First let us carefully note the
statement of Christ in Matthew 21:42, that He would be the Stone rejected by
the Builders. The nation Israel, with her rulers did reject their Messiah and
Divine King. The wonderful Parable of the Vineyard in Matthew 21:33 to 43 tells
the story: “They caught Him (the Heir) and cast Him out of the Vineyard and
slew Him.” (Matthew 21:39.
After felling something of
Israel’s history in this parable Christ used some very strong language in
denouncing His own nation. After calling them “blind fools,” “blind guides” and
“hypocrites” (Matthew 23:17, 19, 23, and 24) Christ said: “Ye SERPENTS, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Shortly thereafter
these same Israelites, whom Christ called “SERPENTS,” killed the Prince of
Life.” (Acts 3:14 and 15). So we might ask this question; if the Israelites
were “SERPENTS” and vipers, headed for hell, before they put Christ to death,
were they worse than SERPENTS after they added to their long list of sins? Read
Acts 7:51 to 56 and I Thessalonians 2:14 to 16.
Before we answer this question
let us read what Christ said to a Gentile woman in Mark 7:27: “But Jesus said
unto her, Let THE CHILDREN first be filled: for it is not meet to take the
CHILDREN’S bread and to cast it unto the DOGS.” Here we learn that the Lord
Jesus in no uncertain language called Gentiles, “DOGS.” But at this time the
Israelites, who were “CHILDREN,” had not yet become the “SERPENTS” and “vipers”
of Matthew 23:33. Then note what Christ said about the “CHILDREN” in Matthew
8:12: “They shall be cast out into outer darkness,” But the “children” were to
be filled FIRST.
Keep the two statements in
mind, “Let the CHILDREN FIRST BE FILLED.” “The CHILDREN shall be cast out into
outer darkness.” But let us also remember, as we leave the Four Gospels and the
earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, we leave the Israelites as “SERPENTS” and
“vipers” and the Gentiles as “DOGS.” Which do you think should come FIRST, a
“SERPENT” or a “DOG?” Most people prefer “DOGS” to “SERPENTS.” But the Jews
came FIRST with GOD. (Acts 3:26). In answering this question we quote Romans
1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; TO THE JEW FIRST, and ALSO TO THE
GREEK.” Here we have our answer. “TO THE JEW FIRST.” “And also to the Greek.”
That Gentile woman was a Greek, and Christ called her a “DOG.” We can
understand why God’s order was “TO THE JEWS FIRST” when the Jews were
“CHILDREN”; but not when they were “SERPENTS.” The “CHILDREN” should be filled
before “DOGS” received anything.
Why were the Jews FIRST in Acts
3:26? Because they were “CHILDREN” again, in Acts 3:25. Something had changed
the “SERPENTS” back to “CHILDREN.” We quote these two verses: “Unto you FIRST
God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you (Israel), in turning
away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). “Ye are THE CHILDREN
of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers.” (Acts
3:25).
Can you explain the changes? In
Matthew 8:12 and Mark 7:27 the Jews are CHILDREN.” In Matthew 23:33 the same
Jews are “SERPENTS” and “vipers.” In Acts 3:25 the same Jews are “CHILDREN”
again. And between the time of Matthew 23:33 and Acts 3:25 they had killed the
Prince of Life (Acts 3:14 and 15). They had been the betrayers and murderers of
Christ. (Acts 7:51 to 54). It seems that between Matthew 23:33 and Acts 3:14
and 15 they had become worse than “SERPENTS.”
As we behold the Son of God on
the cross, we hear Him pray for Israel, “Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). This prayer changed the “SERPENTS” to
“CHILDREN.” Christ’s death had to be. (Acts 3:18 - Acts 4:25 to 29 - Acts 2:22
and 23.) So the sin of the “SERPENTS” in stoning and killing their prophets and
in crucifying the Lord of glory (I Corinthians 2:8) was pardonable. God was
willing to attribute it to ignorance (Acts 3:17), and blot it out, if Israel
would repent. (Acts 3:19 to 26). So the Jews were tenderly and graciously
addressed as “CHILDREN” and they were offered the FIRST blessing. But they
stoned Stephen. They continued to blaspheme (Acts 13:45 - Acts 18:5), and then
they committed their fourth great sin; for they forbade the apostles to preach
to the Gentiles. That filled up their sins and the wrath of God came upon them
to the uttermost. (I Thessalonians 2:14 to 16).
Paul presented to Israel the
sure mercies of David, by the resurrection of Christ, forgiveness and
justification through Him (Acts 13:30 to 39). Then He warned them. (Acts 13:40
to 42). When they continued to blaspheme and reject the resurrected Christ,
Paul said to the Jews . . . “It was necessary that the Word of God should FIRST
have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES.” Acts 13:46.
Then THE CHILDREN OF THE
KINGDOM (Matthew 8:12) were cast away into blindness and darkness (Romans 11:7
to 9 - Romans 11:15); and the Gentiles received mercy because of the unbelief
of “THE CHILDREN,” the Jews. (Romans 11:30).
What is the Gospel?
Believing Christ died, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ died for YOUR sins and
rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which the preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye
are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain. For I delivered unto
you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures; And that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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Bible: King James Version
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