The Chosen People
The Jews are not “God’s chosen people.” Some Christians criticize this position and rail against “Replacement Theology” as some kind of heresy. In fact, “replacement theology” is as legitimate as the replacement of Judas Iscariot with Matthias.
Judas Iscariot was replaced. Another man filled his ministry. His ministry and calling did not go away, but Judas did. Someone filled that gap. Judas is a type of the Jew, starting with his name, Judas, and linked to his town, Iscariot/Kerioth, located in the land of Judea.
Jesus Christ (God) himself called Judas Iscariot to the ministry — it was Judas’ calling and purpose. Jesus did not make a mistake when he called Judas. Never-the-less, Judas turned aside and went his own way and the disciples understood that he had to be replaced. So Matthias stepped into his ministry and took his place. Judas was replaced.
Gods intent to replace the ancient Nation of Israel was clear from its very inception — God himself told Moses to stand aside so he could wipe them out and start a new nation afresh from Moses. This replacement would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ — who was the fulfillment of both Moses (who willed to be sacrificed for His people), and from Him (Jesus), from which a new race would be born. That ancient nation was a stiff-necked and hard hearted people who always were resisting the Holy Spirit. Stephen encapsulates this in Acts 7 when he reminds them that they rejected both Joseph and Moses as well as killed the prophets and became the murders of the Righteous One.
Jesus Christ told the Jews that they would be replaced. He told Jerusalem that your house would be left desolate and cursed the fig tree (a type of Israel) with eternal barrenness. And in the parable of the wedding feast, those invited refused to come, and God replaced them with other guests. …
