Holy Scripture. The Apostasy of the Jews

THE OLD TESTAMENT

The apostasy of the people of Israel (the Jews) is one of the central themes in the historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament. The prophets continually rebuked the people for breaking the Covenant, practicing idolatry, and forgetting God.
Here is a selection of key Old Testament passages reflecting this theme:

Warning of Future Apostasy (The Law of Moses) Even before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the prophet Moses predicted that the people would forsake God: “And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.’” — Deuteronomy 31:16

The Forgotten Creator and Wandering After Idols The prophet Jeremiah vividly describes the absurdity of the people exchanging the living God for lifeless idols: “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” — Jeremiah 2:13 “In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion. O generation, see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; we will come no more to You?’ Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” — Jeremiah 2:30–32

Rebuke Through the Prophet Isaiah Isaiah opens his book with a sharp rebuke of the moral and spiritual downfall of the people, comparing them to animals that know their master: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’” — Isaiah 1:2–3

Loss of Spiritual Sight and Hearing The Book of Ezekiel describes the state of the people whose hearts had hardened against God: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.” — Ezekiel 12:2

Spiritual Adultery in the Book of Hosea God’s relationship with apostate Israel is often metaphorically described as marital infidelity: “Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: ‘There is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed...’” — Hosea 4:1–3

Reminder in the Psalms The Psalms frequently recall the history of stubbornness and apostasy of the fathers in the wilderness and during the period of the Judges: “Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.” — Psalm 78:56–58 (77:56–58 in the Septuagint/Slavonic numbering)

THE NEW TESTAMENT

In the New Testament, the theme of apostasy (Greek: apostasia) and the unbelief of a portion of the Jewish people during Christ's earthly ministry and the early Church era is an important theological line. In the Gospels and the Epistles of the Apostles, this issue is addressed through the lens of prophecies, the hardening of hearts, and the future destiny of Israel.
Here is a selection of key New Testament passages reflecting this theme:

Jesus Christ’s Predictions and Rebukes The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 23, verses 37–38) — Christ's words over Jerusalem, which rejected His prophets and Himself: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.” — Matthew 23:37–38

The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 21, verses 42–43) — The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, where Jesus speaks of the transfer of the Kingdom of God: “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.’” — Matthew 21:42–43

The Gospel of John (Chapter 1, verse 11) — A general testimony regarding Christ's encounter with His own people: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” — John 1:11

Testimony of John the Evangelist The Gospel of John (Chapter 12, verses 37–40) — Explanation of the reason for the unbelief of the Jews through a quote from the prophet Isaiah: “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’” — John 12:37–40

Apostle Paul’s Reflections in the Epistle to the Romans The Apostle Paul devotes special attention to the fate of the Jewish people and their apostasy: Epistle to the Romans (Chapter 10, verse 21) — On obstinacy and disobedience: “But to Israel he says: ‘All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’” — Romans 10:21

Epistle to the Romans (Chapter 11, verses 7–8) — On the division of the people into a faithful remnant and a hardened majority: “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.’” — Romans 11:7–8

Testimony in the Book of Acts of the Apostles Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 28, verses 25–27) — Paul’s concluding words to the Roman Jews, repeating Isaiah’s prophecy: “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: ‘The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying: “Go to this people and say: ‘Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’”’” — Acts 28:25–27