Romans 10
Israel Heard But Rejected
In this chapter, Paul continued to grieve over Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. He argued that their refusal to believe was inexcusable because they had clearly heard the truth.
In essence, this passage is an appeal to the Jews to abandon the way of legalism and accept the way of grace. It is an appeal to them to see that their zeal is misplaced. It is an appeal to listen to the prophets who long ago declared that faith is the only way to God, and that that way is open to every man. - William Barclay
Israel Attempted to Earn Righteousness
Prayer
Vs. 1 - Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.
In this section, Paul continued to mourn that so many of His people had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. He grieved that, though they had heard the good news, they had refused to believe it.
Misunderstanding
Vs. 4-5 (NLT) - For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.
As he has clearly explained in earlier sections of the letter, the Jews were, understandably, zealous law-keepers. These revelatory rules were created especially for them. Careful obedience had brought blessing, and careless disobedience had brought exile.
Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am the Lord.
But Israel had come to misunderstand their purpose. Keeping the law brought blessing, but it did not bring relationship. Paul had already illustrated that with Abraham. He was righteous because of his willingness to trust and follow God long before Moses or the law.
Righteousness Comes Through Faith
Vs. 6-8 - But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this:
Paul then quoted Moses, specifically Deuteronomy 30:12-13, to illustrate the access the Jews had to truth. Moses clearly communicated the law of God. Paul clearly preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Moses is saying that God's law is not inaccessible and impossible; it is there in a man's mouth and life and heart. - William Barclay
Vs. 9 - If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”
It was the message of faith in Jesus that Paul urged his readers to confess and believe.
When we confess… the Lord Jesus, we agree with what God said about Jesus, and with what Jesus said about Himself. It means we recognize that Jesus is God, that He is the Messiah, and that His work on the cross is the only way of salvation for mankind. - David Guzik
Paul quoted Isaiah and Joel here when describing how the promised Messiah was to be a firm foundation and a way of escape for those recognized and received Him. Even the prophets, Paul argued, spoke of “unshakeable” believers, those who would come to God by faith.
Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable
Joel 2:32 - Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.
There Is No Distinction
Vs. 12-13 - ...there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
The salvation process does not distinguish by ethnicity, background, education level, religious history or moral blamelessness. Everyone who calls on God’s name will be saved. The gospel is the most inclusive religious message ever, creating the most inclusive community that has ever existed on earth. - JD Greear
Did Israel Not Understand?
Vs. 16 - But not all obeyed the gospel.
Vs. 18 - I ask, “Did they not hear?”
Vs. 19 - I ask, “Did Israel not understand?”
In the previous passage Paul has been saying that the way to God is not that of works and of legalism, but of faith and trust. The objection is: But what if the Jews never heard of that? It is with that objection Paul deals; and, as he deals with it in its various forms, on each occasion he clinches his answer with a text from scripture. Finally, Paul insists that, all through history, God has been stretching out hands of appeal to Israel, and Israel has always been disobedient and perverse. - William Barclay
Paul quoted David, Moses, Nahum, and Isaiah here to answer hypothetical objections as to whether or not Israel had completely understood the “good news” of salvation by grace through faith. He concludes that Israel most definitely heard and understood it but still failed to receive it.
Isaiah 65:1-2 - “I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that did not call on my name. I spread out my hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in the path that is not good, following their own thoughts.
It is strange that Israel, for the most part, rejected their own Messiah. Strange as it was, this too was foretold. - David Guzik
Did not the Jewish people have a time of hearing and instruction? Certainly they knew, and they knew also that the gospel was not to be confined to them. They had a warning that it should even be taken from them and sent to other nations. - Charles Spurgeon
