The ancient Jewish church were the highly favored people of God brought out of Egypt and acknowledged as his own peculiar treasure. The many and exceeding great and precious promises to them as a people, were the hope and confidence of the Jewish church. Herein they trusted, and believed their salvation sure. No other people professed to be governed by the commandments of God. Our Saviour came first to his own people, but they received him not. {2SP 40.2}

Den gamle jødiske menighed var Guds højt skattede folk der blev bragt ud af Ægypten og anerkendte dem som hans eget særlige rigdom. De mange og overmådelige store og dyrebare løfter for dem som et folk, var den jødiske menigheds håb. Heri stolede de på og troede på at der frelse var sikker. Intet andet folk bekendte at bliv blive styret af Guds bud. Vor Frelser kom først til sit eget folk, men de tog ikke imod ham.