Topical Bible: Citizens: Wicked: Jews

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In the biblical narrative, the concept of wickedness among the Jewish people is addressed in various contexts, often highlighting the tension between God's chosen people and their frequent disobedience to His commandments. The Bible provides numerous examples where the Israelites, despite being recipients of God's covenant and blessings, fall into patterns of wickedness, idolatry, and rebellion.

Old Testament Instances

1. Idolatry and Rebellion: One of the earliest instances of wickedness among the Israelites is seen during their exodus from Egypt. Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance, they quickly turn to idolatry. In Exodus 32, the people demand that Aaron make them a golden calf to worship, saying, "These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 32:4). This act of rebellion provokes God's anger, and Moses intercedes on their behalf to avert disaster.

2. The Period of the Judges: The Book of Judges repeatedly describes a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance among the Israelites. Judges 2:11-12 states, "Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt." This pattern of wickedness leads to their subjugation by surrounding nations until they cry out to God for deliverance.

3. The Kings and Prophets: The era of the kings also highlights the wickedness of the Jewish people, often led astray by their rulers. King Ahab, influenced by his wife Jezebel, is noted for his idolatry and evil practices. 1 Kings 16:30-33 describes Ahab as doing "more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him." The prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, frequently call out the people's wickedness, urging them to return to God. Isaiah 1:4 laments, "Oh, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children of corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him."

New Testament Context

1. Rejection of the Messiah: In the New Testament, the ultimate act of wickedness is seen in the rejection of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. Despite His teachings, miracles, and fulfillment of prophecy, many Jewish leaders and citizens reject Him. John 1:11 states, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." This rejection culminates in the crucifixion of Jesus, an act that is both a fulfillment of divine prophecy and a demonstration of human wickedness.

2. Warnings and Parables: Jesus frequently addresses the wickedness of the Jewish leaders through parables and direct rebukes. In Matthew 23, He pronounces woes upon the scribes and Pharisees, calling them "hypocrites" and "blind guides" (Matthew 23:23-24). These leaders are criticized for their outward religiosity but inward corruption and failure to recognize the truth of Christ's message.

3. The Early Church: The Book of Acts records instances of Jewish opposition to the early Christian movement. Acts 7 recounts the martyrdom of Stephen, who accuses the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and betraying and murdering the Righteous One (Acts 7:51-52). This opposition, however, also serves to spread the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries, fulfilling God's plan for salvation to reach all nations.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the theme of wickedness among the Jewish people serves as a reminder of the human propensity to stray from God's ways, despite His continual offers of grace and redemption. The scriptures consistently call for repentance and a return to faithfulness, emphasizing God's desire for a holy and obedient people.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 17:12-20
Say now to the rebellious house, Know you not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and has taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
Nave's Topical Index

Library

How the Kings of Asia Honored the Nation of the Jews and Made them ...
... privileges belonging to them as citizens, but restrained ... their old grudge at those
whose wicked opposition they ... the ancient favors granted to the Jews, but said ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how the kings.htm

How
... remaining; and by this means cast the Jews into great ... in that citadel dwelt the impious
and wicked part of ... from whom it proved that the citizens suffered many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how.htm

How the Zealots when they were Freed from the Idumeans, Slew a ...
... Slew A Great Many More Of The Citizens; And How ... And indeed many there were of the
Jews that deserted ... time that they defiled men with their wicked actions, they ...
/.../chapter 6 how the zealots.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... And Ahaziah; As Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. ... 3. How The Kings
Of Asia Honored The Nation Of The Jews And Made Them Citizens Of Those ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Festus Succeeds Felix who is Succeeded by Albinus as He is by ...
... the violence of the people of Cesarea, the Jews caught up ... the sake of a few of the
wicked to put ... house, they slew its inhabitants; so the citizens fled along ...
/.../chapter 14 festus succeeds felix.htm

The Gospel.
... Archelaus grew so wicked, that in the year 12 AD ... him was sent to Rome by the Jews
and Samaritans ... The Roman citizens considered themselves the lords of all this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xx the gospel.htm

Concerning John of Gischala. Concerning the Zealots and the High ...
... up in our customs, and called Jews, do walk ... all provoked against them by those their
wicked actions, whence ... their defects on both sides, the citizens taking up ...
/.../chapter 3 concerning john of.htm

The Young Titus
... But one of the Jews on the wall thrust his fingers under his ... Woe to the wicked city!". ...
Here he came upon great crowds of terror-stricken citizens who had rushed ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter ix the young titus.htm

The Calamities and Slaughters that came Upon the Jews.
... of money, that he chose to be so wicked to his ... of Berytus, were busy in plundering,
the Jews pulled up ... keep it; but that in case the citizens should perceive ...
/.../chapter 18 the calamities and.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... the beginning, had determined what the Jews had executed. ... that while by means of
the wicked God performs ... with good reason, he upbraids the citizens of Samaria ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm