Jesus and His disciples’ ministries were ONLY “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

“These twelve [apostles] Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt.10:5-7)

Now back to 2 Corinthians 5:16, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh (in His human ministry toward Israel), yet now henceforth know we him no more.”

We want to concentrate on the phrase, “yet NOW henceforth know we him (Jesus) no more.” Paul’s ministry was in the “but now” (Eph. 2:13), quite unlike that of “time past” and “the ages to come.” Hence, we do not know Jesus Christ according to His past earthly ministry, when there was a difference between Jew and Gentile in God’s view. Today, the “middle-wall of partition” has been removed; God Himself has abolished it “in Christ” by the Cross. Today we know Jesus Christ according to His “all-men” (Jew and Gentile) ministry.

Again, this new program of God’s pure grace for “all men” today began with the Apostle Paul’s ministry and message.

“⁴(God) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified In Due Time. ⁷Whereunto I (Paul) am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the GENTILES in faith and verity (truth).” (1 Tim. 2:4-7)  

Note in verses 6 how that Paul is the “due-time” testifier of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for all sins for both Jew and Gentile. Prior to Paul, soul salvation was limited to Israel. (See Isaiah 53:8 and Matt. 20:28, for example.) Isaiah’s “my” people are of Israel, no Gentiles are in view.

But today salvation is available to “all them that believe”!

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference… ²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also….” (Romans 3:22, 29)

“there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” (Romans 10:12) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men….” (Titus 2:11)

These “no-difference” and “all-men” statements, could not be said of Jesus of Nazareth’s earthly ministry. These words only became true as the ascended Lord Jesus Christ said them through Paul’s ministry. Notice more Pauline verses on this subject.

“⁵By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations (nationalities), for his name:…. ¹⁴ I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. ¹⁵ So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. ¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile).” (Romans 1:5, 14-16; note v5 “all nations.”)

Unlike Jesus of Nazareth’s Twelve Apostles who were sent only “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” Paul had an unrestricted apostleship to “all” nations (races). Contrast Paul with Peter and the 11 other Apostles, who had to preach to and convert ALL Israel BEFORE going “to all nations (Gentiles)” (cf. Matt. 10:5-7; Matt. 28:18-20.)

In fact, Jesus said “The Twelve” would not get beyond Israel in their ministry before He returns. “… when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” (Matt. 10:23) in His 2^nd coming. Jesus then obviously foreknew the ministry of “the Twelve” among Israel would soon be cut short when Paul would come on the scene with his new “gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24) for “all men.” Paul’s “mystery” gospel had been “kept secret since the world began” until revealed to “Paul for us Gentiles” (Eph, 3:1-5).

Romans 16:25-26: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my (Paul’s) gospel, and the preaching of ‘Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the Mystery,’ which was kept secret since the world began, ²⁶But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations (all men) for the obedience of faith:…..”