The Advantage Of The Jew Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

CrossWay Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

We are continuing in our study of the Epistle to the Romans. If you remember, last week, we concluded Chapter 2 with the understanding that the Jew is no better off than the Gentile if their hearts are not circumcised for God in the same way that a Jewish man is circumcised as an outward sign of his Judaism. The point that Paul is making, and we'll continue to make, is that Judaism, in the temporal sense, means nothing without a brokenness and dedication to God. However, the same is true for the gentile. So the question being asked and underscored tonight is, 'What is the advantage of being a Jew'?

Now, before we get into the passage, there’s a Greek phrase you need to know: me genoito. It is the most decisive negative in the Greek language. Some translations record it as ‘may it never be so’ or ‘certainly not!’ But I have a better translation: ‘No way, Jose’ or ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no!’ So with that, let's first read Romans 3:1-20:

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:1–20)

If you look at the story of the Jews and trace their history all the way back to when God called Abraham out of Ur to begin a chosen nation, you will only find a small, insignificant nation riddled with difficulty, war, persecution, hatred, and pain. From the very outlook, there is no reason any Jew is alive in the world today, and yet they are there having returned and reestablished their nations in 1948 to a small part of the land God gave them. John MacArthur does a marvelous job summarizing their heritage, and I’m going to paraphrase what he wrote:

If you look at the story of the Jew historically, it would seem that there is virtually no advantage to being Jewish. After Joseph helped the Egyptians overcome 7 years of famine, the Jews became slaves in Egypt for over 400 years under the bondage of Pharaoh. We read how they were given menial tasks with little resources and treated brutally.  They aimlessly wandered in the desert for 40 years when they were finally set free from Egypt.  When they finally entered Canaan, they had to save themselves from the destruction of people who constantly attacked them both religiously and morally.  They were slaughtered and taken captive finally by the Assyrians and then by the Babylonians.

After returning from captivity in Babylon, they set out to rebuild their land from the rubble and were mocked and harassed hindered, and unaided in their efforts.  They were dominated by the Greek Antiochus Epiphanes under Greek rule, and he took liberties to desecrate their faith and the temple.