Why Christians Should Bless the Jewish People: Recovering a Biblical Perspective in an Age of Rising Antisemitism
- Brent Madaris
- Oct 17
- 6 min read
Bringing Biblical Sanity to a Growing Crisis
Few things grieve the heart of God more than hatred toward the people through whom He gave the world the Scriptures and the Savior. Yet antisemitism—ancient, ugly, and persistent—has returned to public life with alarming force. From social media vitriol to street protests, and even within some corners of professing Christianity, disdain for the Jewish people has once again found a voice.
But Christians must be governed not by the spirit of the age, but by the Word of God. The Bible presents a consistent and unmistakable testimony: God’s affection for the descendants of Abraham endures, and His promises concerning them remain part of His redemptive plan.
This article begins a series dedicated to restoring a scriptural perspective on God’s love for the Jewish people, the nation of Israel. The goal isn’t political alignment or cultural sentiment—it’s biblical faithfulness. We begin where Scripture begins—with
The Abrahamic Covenant: God’s Enduring Promise
“I Will Bless Them That Bless Thee”: The Foundational Promise - Bless the Jewish People
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
—Genesis 12:3
Some claim that God’s promise in Genesis 12:3 was directed only to Abraham himself. But that interpretation collapses under the weight of Scripture.
When God called Abram out of Ur, He made a covenant rooted in grace and sealed by divine faithfulness. The blessing of Genesis 12:1–3 was not merely personal—it was national and redemptive. While the promise certainly included Abraham himself, it extended to his descendants (Genesis 17:7–8). Notice the phrase "in their generations."
God reaffirmed this covenant to Isaac (Genesis 26:3–4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13–14), proving that His word to Abraham was not conditional or temporary. The nations were to relate to Israel through this divine principle: to bless Israel was to invite God’s favor; to curse her was to invite judgment.
Cross-References:
Genesis 18:18 – “Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.”
Genesis 22:17–18 – “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
Numbers 24:9 – “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”
Deuteronomy 7:6–8 – “The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself… because the Lord loved you.”
Ezekiel 36:22–24 - Even in their unbelief and exile, God preserved them, for His name’s sake
From Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and beyond, God reaffirmed His covenant. The principle of blessing and cursing extended to the nation that would come from Abraham’s seed—Israel. Christians (America) must remain firm in their purpose to bless the Jewish people.
“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem”: A Call to Love What God Loves
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
—Psalm 122:6
This command is not a relic of Israel’s monarchy but a living call for God’s people to intercede for the city where He has placed His name (1 Kings 11:36). “Peace” (shalom) in this context means more than the absence of war; it speaks of wholeness, restoration, and divine favor.
To pray for Jerusalem’s peace is to align one’s heart with God’s purposes. It reflects confidence that the same God who scattered Israel will gather her again (Jeremiah 31:10; Zechariah 8:7–8).
In an age where hostility toward Israel grows louder, Christians must not take their cues from media narratives, skewed religious persuasions, or political movements. Our calling is spiritual: to love what God loves and seek the peace He commands.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 62:6–7 – “Give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
Psalm 137:5–6 – “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.”
Romans 15:27 – Gentile believers are indebted to the Jews spiritually and called to bless them materially.
“To love Jerusalem is to love the redemptive story God is writing through His chosen people.”
God’s Heart for Israel in the Prophets
Throughout the Old Testament, God declares His love for Israel as everlasting, undeserved, and unbreakable.
Key Verses:
Deuteronomy 32:9 – “The Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.”
Isaiah 49:15–16 — “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”
Jeremiah 31:3 – “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”
Jeremiah 31:35–37 – As long as the sun and moon endure, Israel will remain a nation before God.
Ezekiel 37:21–28 — Israel’s restoration under one Shepherd, the Son of David.
Zechariah 2:8 – “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.”
Zechariah 8:23 – “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
God’s covenant with Israel is not based on their performance but on His promise. To love Israel is to respect the faithfulness of God.
These are not metaphors for the Church but literal promises awaiting fulfillment. God’s covenant faithfulness to Israel serves as a testimony of His unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6).
The New Testament Affirms God’s Love for Israel
Some modern theologies claim the Church has replaced Israel. But the Apostle Paul—himself a Jew—flatly rejects that notion. Paul’s words in Romans 9–11 are decisive. The apostle grieves over Israel’s unbelief yet affirms that God’s calling of Israel remains irrevocable:
“Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.”
—Romans 11:1
“...As touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
—Romans 11:28–29
Paul foresees a future national turning to Christ:
—“And so all Israel shall be saved.” — Romans 11:26
Jesus Himself confirmed this expectation:
—“Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”— Matthew 23:39
Far from replacing Israel, the Church is grafted in—a wild olive branch drawing nourishment from the root of Abraham’s covenant (Romans 11:17–24). Gentile believers should therefore walk humbly, rejoicing that through Israel’s (temporary) fall, salvation, through Christ, came to the nations, including the Jews. Yet, in the same breath, we must remember that God is not finished with His chosen people. There is yet to be the prophetic fulfillment of all that God has promised to her!
Why This Matters Now
We are watching a dangerous trend:
The return of antisemitic rhetoric among evangelicals.
The rise of replacement theology in pulpits and seminaries.
The vilification of Israel in global discourse.
The Christian’s Posture Toward the Jewish People
Christians must anchor their worldview in Scripture, not ideology.
To bless Israel today means to speak truth, oppose antisemitism, pray for their peace, and share the gospel of Jesus the Messiah.
While not everything modern Israel does is righteous, and we are free to say so, God’s covenantal relationship with the Jewish people remains.
Paul models this heart when he declares, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1).
A Christian cannot claim to love the God of Israel while harboring contempt for the people of Israel.
To curse them is to resist God’s declared purpose.
To bless them is to participate in His redemptive plan.
History is marred by centuries of misunderstanding and mistreatment of the Jews. But the faithful Christian must rise above that and take Scripture at face value.
God has not forgotten His promises. He has not abandoned His people. One day, Israel will look upon the One they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10), and the nations will see the faithfulness of God displayed in her redemption.
Until then, let us bless what God has blessed, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and stand as witnesses of His covenant mercy.
“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
— Psalm 37:28
Takeaway Truths
1. God’s promise to bless those who bless Israel still stands.
2. Christians owe a spiritual debt to the Jewish people (Romans 15:27).
3. The Church has not replaced Israel—God’s covenant is irrevocable (Romans 11:29).
4. Loving the Jewish people reflects fidelity to Scripture, not politics.
This article initiates a series exploring the biblical relationship between the Church and Israel, aiming to restore clarity in an era of confusion and growing hostility.
Coming Articles in This Series
Does the Church Replace Israel? A Look at Romans 9–11
Jesus Was a Jew: Recovering the Jewish Context of the Gospel
Why God Still Has a Plan for Israel (and Why That’s Good News for the World)
Antisemitism in the Church: Rooting Out a Deadly Weed
Final Word: Christians Should Be the First to Bless, Not Curse
You don’t have to endorse every policy of modern Israel to honor God’s covenant with His people.
In an age when many are turning against them, Christians should be known as those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem, honor the covenant of God, and love the people through whom salvation came.
“Salvation is of the Jews.” —John 4:22
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