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Jesus is the Messiah. From my understanding of scripture, the Messiah was promised to the Jews. If the Jews had accepted him as such - (a hypothetical) - was the Messiah prophesied to die for the sins of ONLY the Jews? If Jesus was sent only to the Jews -(AND HE ALWAYS DOES THE WILL OF THE FATHER) - when was the mission changed by the father (to turn it into a global mission of dying the the sins of all humanity)? Or did Jesus change it by himself?

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    This needs to be scoped since some accept what you say 'Christ dying for the sins of all humanity' whereas some believe Christ suffered only for the specific sins of His own people (his death being another matter). You will need to specify who you seek answers from. (See the Tour and the Help as to this aspect of the site.)
    – Nigel J
    Commented Aug 7 at 16:38
  • @NigelJ isn't it enough that I have cited the verses for the two propositions? Thanks for the guidance
    – user68393
    Commented Aug 7 at 16:57
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    @JamesStuart asks "isn't it enough that I have cited the verses for the two propositions?" — I realize this isn't how you meant it, but to be pedantic (and I hope helpful), no, it's not enough. A good question would also provide explicit quotations of the cited verses, thereby saving every reader from having to go out of their way to look up what the verses say.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Commented Aug 7 at 19:51
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    @JamesStuart You need to discriminate between the sufferings of Christ and the actual voluntary yielding of his spirit in death. They are separate parts of the doctrine of Christ and have different applications. Which applications are seen differently by different groups of self-identifying 'Christians'. This site does not dogmatically state doctrine but simply reports on what various factions believe. Thus you need to scope your question to a particular group since you are 1. merging separate doctrines together and 2. not discriminating the groups who will attempt an answer.
    – Nigel J
    Commented Aug 8 at 7:45

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The problem with this question is its initial premise:

If Jesus was sent only to the Jews — when was the mission changed by the father (to turn it into a global mission of dying the the sins of all humanity)? Or did Jesus change it by himself?

This question is meaningless, as "Jesus was sent only to the Jews" simply isn't true:

Genesis 12:3: 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 26:4: And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed [Jesus] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

1 Kings 8:43: Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.

Psalms 22:27: All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Psalms 67:2: That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Psalms 72:17: His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Isaiah 42:6: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isaiah 49:6: And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

…

The confusion is caused by Matthew 15:22,24:

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. … But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Here Jesus is talking about his brief three and a half year human ministry, not about his overall goal. His mission was to train disciples and start the Church from among the Jews (who were already familiar with all of God's teachings). It was only later, when the Church had grown large enough, that the Gospel was spread to other nations.

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  • When one reads Luke 2:1-2; it becomes evident that "all nations" or "all people of the earth" as we understand it today is not the same as what it was meant in Biblical times. It can not be said, for instance, that the census referenced in Luke 2:1-2 was a global event or indeed a census of all people of all nations or of all inhabitants of the earth. Yet that is what it says.
    – user68393
    Commented Aug 7 at 19:49
  • @JamesStuart says "census of all people of all nations or of all inhabitants of the earth". Actually it said "all the world should be taxed", not "all the nations" or "all inhabitants". From a Roman point of view, the Roman Empire was the world, the centre of all civilization, any nations outside of the empire being seen as insignificant barbarians.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Commented Aug 7 at 20:03
  • Ray Butterworth "all the nations should be taxed" is only one of many interpretations. . Others say "counted", "enrolled", "registered". The Interlinear Bible reads "Register all the world". This, therefore, means one must read references to "the earth", "all nations" and "the world" when speaking of Jesus's mission within the same framework as August's decree to undertake a census of or tax all inhabitants of the entire world.
    – user68393
    Commented Aug 7 at 20:17
  • Good answer. It is not too late to improve by quoting the last verses of Matthew. +1.
    – Andrew Shanks
    Commented Aug 8 at 9:45
  • @AndrewShanks, the quotations were deliberately all from the Hebrew scriptures, the point being to show that it isn't true that Jesus changed the original mission from being only to Jews. The OP already knows that the mission ended up being for all nations.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Commented Aug 8 at 12:34
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The messianic promise has always been inclusive of all nations, peoples.

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Gen 22:18

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Gal 3:16

All will be blessed, but yes, Jesus Christ was sent to the sheep of Israel.

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Eze 34:11, 23

This fulfillment begins at Christ's birth and then properly at His baptism.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Mt 15:24

Still, however, He provides for the Gentile (a woman of Canaan, of a nation) that had prompted this.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Mt 15:28

So far, we know the Messianic promise was for all, but it narrowed about 2,000 years ago, yet not completely to the exclusion of all others. So, when did the promise shift from Israel to all, as it had been prophesied?

In Scripture, the fig tree represents Israel.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. Hos 9:10

What happens? Does Jesus follow prophecy? Of course.

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures [Psalm 118:22-23], The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Mt 21:42-43

So, to answer the OP, Jesus was never sent ONLY to Israel. He was sent to all, to whosoever believes in Him.

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  • The claim that: "The messianic promise has always been inclusive of all nations, peoples." is difficult to wrap one's head round. There are nearly 2,000 years between Abraham & Jesus. I'm not certain we have prophets recorded as being sent to other nations apart from the Jews. Even the hope that the Jews would be a "light to the gentiles" (Isaiah 42:6) never materialised since nowhere are the Jews shown seriously encouraging others nations to worship God. In fact, the Bible lists several instances where Jews are forbidden to mix with other nations. Gentiles seem to have been ignored pre-Jesus
    – user68393
    Commented Aug 7 at 20:07
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    @JamesStuart To help get your 'head wrapped around' OT prophecies that include Gentile nations, consider how Jonah was sent to prophecy to the pagan Ninevites, and they repented (at that time). Consider Psalm 87 where Rahab, and those born in Babylon, Philistia, Tyre & Ethiopia are then declared to have been born in Zion. Those who should be God's witnesses but who fail, don't thwart God's purposes; he raises up others, and people from Gentile nations are brought in. Gentiles could always convert to Judaism too, then Jesus came to do a new thing, as foretold.
    – Anne
    Commented Aug 8 at 7:58
  • @JamesStuart Clearly enough, the focus from Moses to Malachi was on Israel, but as shown with Abraham, Melchizedek, Rahab, Jonah, Nahum, and others, this doesn't mean God's plan was solely regarding Israel. In answer to your question, as mentioned, it is Matthew 21-42-43. It was God's plan. It always included all nations/peoples.
    – SLM
    Commented Aug 8 at 15:36
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You are right to point out that to most Jewish people in the time of Jesus and the immediate apostolic time (just after Pentecost), they thought that Jesus came to save Israel from the current oppressor (the Romans) as the descendant of David who ruled over Israel during its golden age 1,000 years prior.

But as other answers pointed out, we have to see God's plan that from the very beginning, most clearly revealed to Abraham as for the intent for His choosing Israel for himself, that Israel as a nation should be the light of the world, a nation of priests to other nations (see my other answer). To show Israel God's seriousness of making His chosen nation a priest and a beloved child, He disciplined them when they stray from God's purpose for them (when they violated Mosaic law, being unjust to the weak, etc.) by sending them to exile, but also to show He didn't abandon them by still loving and restoring them. Disciplining is consistent with loving as Proverbs say. The rest of the world is supposed to see God's historical actions with Israel as a showing of His character that also applies for all nations when God extends the salvation plan for the whole world by uniting all who believe in Him (through Jesus Christ) in the Body of Christ (aka the Church).

So God has planned this from outside time but to our point of view, this plan is realized IN time through history. The Jewish apostles who recognized this in their own historical situation then see themselves as partners of God in fulfilling God's timeless mission to save the world through the Church by inviting everyone to unite themselves with the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. Jesus, being sent from outside time INTO time, didn't change the will of the Father, which has been determined before history began. Jesus fulfilled it IN time. My other answer to you emphasized the importance of understanding Jesus properly as having dual will: his human (historical) will does in his 35-year-or-so life on earth what He himself (in his divine nature) has willed from Eternity, since his (eternal) will wants to save all humanity along with the Father who is consubstantial with Him.

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Jesus' mission or ministry was only for the lost sheep of the Israel, in the sense that he was not meant to travel to other nations or any Gentiles. He avoided interacting with the gentiles (Matt 10:5-6, 15:21-28). However, the message and salvation was universal. The ministry of Jesus was expanded to the world through his disciples after his ascension to heaven, and when he gave them the Holy Spirit. Thus, his own ministry scope did not change, but was expanded through his disciples after his mission was finished.

Acts 1:4-5, 8 [ESV]

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (v8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

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