I Once managed an apartment complex and hired a dear Puerto Rican friend, Maria, to keep my books. These apartments housed people of all races. I also hired a resident, named Kay, to collect rents. Maria would go monthly to retrieve her records before doing the books for me. On one of those occasions, Kay explained to Maria some grievance she had against a Mexican resident. Then, with a condescending attitude, she told Maria, “You know, there aren’t very many smart Hispanics.”

It is a sad reality that mankind has always demonstrated disdain for those who are not of their ethnic group or social status. There was a feudal system in Europe, segregation in America, and as we see in our text, the Jews considered themselves superior to Gentiles. God had chosen the Jews to be His special people. Even the Old Testament law prohibited close interaction with Gentiles, unless they turned in saving faith to Jehovah. This required separation. However, Israel was not intended to carnally feed their egos with an attitude of superiority. Because the Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked and is not willing that any should perish, it was always the plan of the Father to redeem anyone who looked to Him in faith. Referring to the Messiah, Isaiah 49:6 promised, “…I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” Referring to the Second Coming, Isaiah 42:6-7 promises, “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness…for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes…and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 60:3 continues, “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light. ” God was

explaining to Peter in Acts 10 that the Lord was already opening the door of salvation to all mankind. His testimony was that “…God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (vs. 28), …But in every nation he that feareth Him…is accepted with Him [God]” (vs. 35).

Every believer needs to learn what Peter learned in Acts 10. It is unacceptable for any believer to look down their noses at others of different ethnicities. None of us are better than anyone else. All mankind are sinners by nature. Christ gave His life to redeem every man. Therefore, no one is to “…think of himself more highly that he ought to think…” (Romans 12:3).