Why don’t Jews believe in Jesus?

In the time of Jesus all his followers were Jewish. Even after his death, the early church was primarily Jewish. This indicates that there were Jews who became Christian. For other Jews this was a difficult transition, feeling Jesus was casting off their Jewish way of life. They misunderstood his work. Jesus said,

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

The influential Jewish leadership opposed Jesus for a number of reasons. Jesus was often very critical of their selfish motives and misguided leadership. History has shown that when leadership is honest and truth is important to them, the ones they lead are generally blessed. This, however, was not the case when we study the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day. Since most of them rejected Jesus, the general population of Jews now also rejects him and do not read the New Testament.

But this does not mean that Jewish people are lost forever. The scriptures teach that Israel will be used by God in blessing all the families of the earth. Their restoration as a nation is part of God’s plan to establish a new world government using Israel as His instrument to bring the promised blessings. 

To learn more about God’s plan for the Jewish people listen to, “Is Israel a Thorn in the Side of the World?”