Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to go to the Gentiles and Samaritans in Matthew 10?
Question
What does it mean when Jesus tells His disciples not to go to the Gentiles and Samaritans in Matthew 10?
AI
Did Jesus' words feel like discrimination to you? That's a completely understandable reaction.
When reading the Bible, we sometimes encounter passages that puzzle us. Matthew 10:5-6, where Jesus tells His disciples "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans," is one such passage. Why would Jesus, who taught us to love everyone, say something like this?
"Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." (Matthew 10:5-6)
1. God's plan of salvation had a specific order
Jesus wasn't excluding Gentiles and Samaritans—this was about priority, not discrimination. Just as you would rescue your family first when your house is on fire, God chose to begin His work of salvation through the people of Israel first.
• Fulfillment of promises: God had made promises to Abraham and his descendants. Keeping these promises demonstrated God's faithfulness.
• Strategic approach: If Israel received the gospel first, they could become the channel through which the good news would spread to the entire world.
2. The tender meaning behind "lost sheep"
Jesus called Israel "lost sheep." Can you hear the compassion rather than condemnation in this phrase? Like a shepherd searching desperately for lost sheep, Jesus held deep love for the spiritually wandering people of Israel.
At that time, Israel was suffering under Roman rule, and religious leaders were caught up in legalistic formality. They desperately needed the care of a true shepherd.
3. This was a temporary restriction
It's important to remember that Jesus' command was not permanent. After His resurrection, He gave a completely different instruction:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)
While He initially focused on Israel, ultimately all nations were included in salvation. In fact, Jesus Himself spoke with the Samaritan woman (John 4) and praised the faith of a Roman centurion (Matthew 8).
4. What do you think?
Sometimes God's ways are difficult for us to understand. But when we step back and look at the bigger picture, we discover the wisdom and love within His plan. Just as a parent might attend to a sick child first among several children, God reached out first to where the need was greatest. God's love has no discrimination—only His plan has order and timing. Calling Israel first was ultimately meant to embrace the whole world. Today, we are people invited into that wide embrace. We who were once "Gentiles" are now children of God. Isn't this the amazing grace of the gospel?
