[CynicalBear]

>>They were put aside right here in Matthew 23:

I’m not so sure that means what you think it means.

Matthew 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Jesus was talking there to the Pharisees who were being hypocrites in teaching to do what they didn’t do themselves. Israel was not set aside at that point because it was later that Jesus said to go to the Jews first and not yet to the Gentiles.

[redleghunter]

Here is the context of Matthew 23. Jesus is saying "Jerusalem, Jerusalem." Not Pharisees, Pharisees:

37 “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! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”