During the reign of the Caesars, Rome was a mortal enemy to the Jews. To put it mildly, the two groups disagreed on everything. One big issue involved the fact that Roman men had multiple wives, making consorts of their slaves and concubines—to guarantee heirs.
According to Roman custom, prior to age 12, Roman children held a rank just above household slave. At twelve, their fathers held an adoption ceremony where they choose the males that would become full-fledged family members, and heirs. The status of the chosen children elevated considerably. The ones who were not, became slaves. Adoption by choice was a highly esteemed Roman practice which the Jews abhorred. In haughtiness, the Jews claimed their heirs were born to a married couple, and ranked according to birth order. (Of course, scriptures speak to quite a few Israelites who broke this law…)
So imagine the apostles shock when the Lord Jesus Christ explained to them that He did not come to earth as a sacrifice only for Israelites, but for all people (1 John 2:2). He explained that gentiles (all non-Jews) would be adopted into the family of God and reign as heirs alongside their Hebrew brothers and sisters (John 10:16, Romans 8:15, 23, Romans 9:4, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5).
Why did Jesus do this? One reason was to fulfill prophesy (Isaiah 42:6). Additionally, what Israelite (or anyone!) had the right to tell GOD whom He chooses? And then there’s the fact that Jesus knew during His first coming, how few Jews would believe He was their Christ, their Messiah (Isaiah 46:14). Many, many New Testament accounts show us that the Jews required proof of His Lordship, whereas gentiles did not, they simply believed He was Who He said He was. (Read this interesting account in Matthew 15:22)
Here is another account—hugely fascinating: Matthew 8:5-13–Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the Centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
A Roman gentile, an enemy of the Jews, begged Jesus to heal one of his young, soon to be adopted sons. This man did not care that Jesus was a Jew and according to Caesar, his enemy. Furthermore, the Centurion was not concerned that he chose Jesus in lieu of Roman healers, doctors, and all pagan Roman gods. He skipped all that and just believed.
He believed so strongly, that he refused Jesus’ invitation to come to his home! NOPE! Just say the word, man, and it’ll be done. Because he KNEW!
It gets better, though…this Centurion actually shocked the Son of Man into astonishment. (Kinda hard to do!) Then Jesus turned to His equally shocked Israelite disciples, and chastised them for their lack of faith. Yikes!
Then our Lord turned the disciples upside down and told them about the future Kingdom of Heaven (the Millennial Kingdom); that many gentiles will come (because of their faith and subsequent adoption), and sit down with the most venerated men in Jewish history!
Oh dear, then things go very badly when Jesus tells them that their brethren will not be seated inside with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the gentiles.
Instead, the Israelites will be cast outside, where they will weep and gnash their teeth for not realizing the Lord Jesus Christ was their foretold Messiah. They won’t be included! WOW!
Not long after this Jesus blinds Saul of Tarsus (murderer of dozens of early believers) while he was on the road to Damascus (to kill more people). It’s hard to fathom that after years persecuting gentiles, Jesus renames Saul to Paul and chooses him to gather gentiles to Him. And since that day, millions of gentiles have been adopted into the family of God as His chosen heirs…
Whew, incredible!