Many people see this scripture, the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and are often confused at why Jesus would tell his disciples NOT to go in the way and teach the Gentiles or Samaritans.

Instead Jesus commands His disciples rather to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Why?

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In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus selects disciples to follow Him and once all were gathered Jesus commands they do not go to the Gentiles, who are the sons of Japheth, nor to the Samaritans.

Was Jesus bias?

Absolutely not! Jesus came and took part in all the laws and ordinances He gave to the children of Israel in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.

Matthew 10

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

In Exodus 19:5-6, the Most High made the children of Israel a royal priesthood. However, by the time Jesus came to the remaining children of Israel in the land under the Roman rule; the majority of them had completely lost their way.

How were they lost? They lost sight on their God and their job in the vineyard. They were in captivity to the Gentiles (Roman Gentiles) at the time and many grew bitter at the Gentile. They would not teach the heathen (the nations) God’s ways.

It is comparable to Jonah and his commission to Nineveh; Jonah didn’t want to complete the mission because Jonah knew God’s mercy. Jonah knew they would repent at God’s Word and God would repent of His evil, and Jonah wouldn’t get to watch a good “beat down.”

The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

Therefore Jonah didn’t want to do his job as a priest of God, because Jonah’s people, Israel, were in captivity to the Gentiles, yet the Gentiles was ruling over Israel with very little consequences for their sinful behavior. This became the mindset the children of Israel developed and still have today. Because of this,  the house of Israel began to slack on living God’s ways also.

Jesus then ordered His disciples to first go wake up the priest (house of Israel)…

“Go wake up the nation from their slumber.”

In essence, Jesus is rebooting the priesthood to get back on their job of being a light to the rest of the nations. This does not mean Jesus was against the Gentiles because we know it is written, “my house will be a house of prayer for ALL people.”

Look at these verses and see if you can understand the parable…

⁸ The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Did you get it?

The Father sent a word to the house of Jacob (Israel) and this word his lit upon Israel. The Word was God! Therefore Israel shine your light before the nations so they be lighten and come into the commonwealth of the Father.

To conclude, Jesus sent His disciples to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to reboot them so they can get back on the job of spreading the gospel to all nations and not just among themselves.