Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7525 exclusiveness

7525 exclusiveness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7500 Jews and Gentiles » 7525 exclusiveness

The keeping of a distinctive group identity by drawing clear boundary lines, to separate those within the group from outsiders with whom they are unwilling to associate.

The practice of exclusiveness by God's people, grounded in God's claim to exclusive worship

Exodus 20:3 pp Deuteronomy 5:7 See also Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:14-15; 2 Kings 17:35-39; Isaiah 42:8

Exclusiveness in Israel, a practical expression of being a people set apart

An expression of being set apart for God

Leviticus 20:26 See also Leviticus 15:31; Leviticus 20:23-24; Deuteronomy 7:1-6

An expression of being set apart from others

Numbers 23:9 See also Joshua 23:7; Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 13:1-3; Ezekiel 44:9

The practice of exclusiveness

Expressed in the avoidance of marrying outsiders

Nehemiah 10:30 See also Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Ezra 9:1-4; Ezra 10:9-17; Nehemiah 13:23-27

Expressed in a refusal to eat with outsiders

Matthew 9:10-11 pp Mark 2:15-16 pp Luke 5:29-30 See also Luke 15:1-2; Galatians 2:12

The marks of Jewish exclusiveness

Circumcision

Genesis 17:9-14 See also Exodus 12:48; Leviticus 12:3; Acts 7:8

Festival observance

Exodus 12:14-16 See also Exodus 12:17-20; Leviticus 23:26-29; Numbers 9:13

Observance of food laws

Leviticus 3:17 See also Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 11:1-47; Leviticus 17:10-14; Acts 15:29 While food restrictions were not a requirement of the gospel, Gentile believers are here asked to respect the scruples of Jewish Christians in those areas that were traditionally important to them.

Sexual relations restricted

Leviticus 18:6 See also Leviticus 18:7-30; Leviticus 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 27:20-23

Effects of Jewish exclusiveness

Division between Jews and Samaritans

John 4:9 See also Ezra 4:1-3; Matthew 10:5-6 Jesus Christ was here dealing with his priority for that time; Luke 9:51-53

Division between Jews and Gentiles

Acts 10:28 See also Matthew 10:5; Matthew 15:21-28 pp Mark 7:24-30 Jesus Christ restricted his earthly ministry in general to the people of Israel, but instigated a mission to the Gentiles after his resurrection; John 18:28

The problem of Jewish exclusiveness among the first Christians

The negative evaluation of Gentiles

Acts 11:1-18 See also Galatians 2:11-13,15

The requirement that Gentile believers be circumcised

Jewish exclusiveness overturned

By God giving his Spirit to the uncircumcised Gentiles

By the argument of justification by faith

Galatians 2:15-16 See also Acts 15:9-11; Romans 3:28-30; Romans 4:9-12