The Jews were chosen and special in every way. But they missed the big picture. That salvation would be by faith and not by bloodlines.
The result was they stumbled over the stumbling stone, the Messiah. He was the one right in front of them and directed towards salvation, but so many have missed it.
The Gentiles, on the other hand, many have realized that salvation is by faith. They didn’t have all the amazing things that were given to the Jews, but they just chose faith (Romans 9:30-33).
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Jews pursued righteousness by Law. But from the time of Abraham and the purpose of the Law, these were only meant to lead us to Christ. And the Jews missed it. Because they believed that salvation was by Law. According to the order of all things.
But salvation was through faith. Righteousness was by faith. And it is still by faith. Not by following the Law.
Many, then, have not embraced that salvation. So let’s pray for the Jewish people. That their eyes will be opened to the salvation that comes by faith as taught in their own Scriptures.