| Romans! |
| Chapter 11 Continued |
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| |
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In the first part of this chapter, Paul showed that one must
become a Jew in order to be a part of the salvation process.
This was made possible because the Jews, for the most part,
were broken off like branches so that some of the Gentiles
could be grafted into the stock of Israel. For one must become a
seed of Abraham in order to be a part of the plan of salvation.
Now you will say, Yes, but the branches were broken off, that I
might be grafted in. That is true. But they were broken off
because of their unbelief. And you were established through
faith. So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in
awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He
certainly won't spare you!
Paul begins another rhetorical argument in verse 19. He had
shown that the Jews were cut off like branches so that the
Gentiles could be grafted in. Here he projects a possible
argument from the Gentiles. But, the branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in. The idea is one of some Gentile
looking down on the Jews. Some proud Gentile might feel that
God had rejected the Jews and brought them in for some
superior attribute of their own.
But Paul showed that it was because of an absence of faith that
the Jews were broken off. Further, it was because of their faith
in the Messiah that the Gentiles were being grafted in. Then
Paul warned those who were being grafted in that they should
understand that if God did not spare the natural branches (the
Jews), He certainly would not spare those who had been grafted
in (the Gentiles) if they should become guilty of a lack of faith.
History and the "Christian" religions of today show us that the
Gentiles did indeed fail to heed Paul's warning. They
transferred their faith to another "gospel". They began to look
down on the Jews and began a hate campaign to destroy them.
The Jews are called "Christ haters" and despised for their
nationality. The pride of these Gentiles is earning for them
destruction from God. It is contrary to all logic to hate those
who carry the name that we must bear in order to be in God's
Kingdom. We must remember that the Jews' shame is just for
the moment. Soon the Messiah will return to the earth to set up
His Kingdom. That Kingdom will be in Jerusalem! The Jews
will be exalted again. For the scepter will never depart from
Judah until the return of the Messiah. At that time He will
become their King. As He was a Jew, the scepter and the law
will never depart from Judah!
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by
faith. Be not high minded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also
spare not thee.
Therefore, understand the goodness and severity of God. On
those who fell, severity, but toward you, goodness – if you
continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Paul admonished the Gentiles that they should understand
God's kindness and severity. The Jews had received a severe
punishment of God because they had rejected the Messiah. The
Gentiles had received the kindness of God by being brought into
the plan of salvation because they had accepted the Messiah. If
they did not understand the reason for God's actions they would
be in danger of being cut off themselves. Unfortunately they did
forget the reason for God's kindness toward them. They
showed such hatred for the Jews that they gave up the Sabbath,
the law, and anything that reminded them of the Jews. They
must have forgotten that the Messiah was a Jew and that one
must become a Jew in order to be a part of the plan of
salvation. God's severity has fallen on them. They have been
excluded from salvation because they have rejected the faith
once delivered to the saints.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they shall be grafted in.
For God is able to graft them in again.
Salvation is still available to the Jews, if they are willing to
believe! God is more than able to graft them back into the
stock from which they were cut off. Today we see many Jews
turning to the Messiah. It is true that many of them are barely
walking at this point. But they will be able to make quick
progress because of their Jewish background. If they embrace
the Sabbath and the Messiah, understanding that the Messiah
was the Sacrifice to cover all sacrifices they will make quick
progress. This is the only difference in the first century Jews
and the first century believers. The Sabbath was not a problem
then, but because many Jews feel they must embrace Sunday in
order to embrace the Messiah, it has become an issue in these
last days.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in:
for God is able to graft them in again.
For you Gentiles were cut out of a wild olive tree and were
grafted, contrary to nature, into a garden olive tree. How much
easier shall these who are garden olive branches be grafted into
their own olive tree?
Paul is explaining in this verse just what I mentioned above and
what is happening today. The Gentiles who were grafted into
the garden olive tree (the stock of Abraham) are being cut off
and the Jews who were cut off are being grafted back in again
to the tree from which they were cut off. They will make fast
progress in healing the breach.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and
wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more
shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own
olive tree?
Brothers in the faith, I do not want you to be ignorant of this
mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits.
Blindness, in part, has happened to Israel, until the fullness of
the Gentiles has come in.
Paul explains a mystery in this verse. A mystery is something
hidden. Many groups have their mysteries. The church also has
its mysteries! One of them is that the Jews were blinded to the
truth so that they could not accept the Messiah in the main until
the fullness of the Gentiles should take place. Don't think
within yourself that this is a well-known mystery! It is generally
not believed at all, except by the true believers! That is the
reason the Jews are persecuted by those who are ignorant of
this mystery.
They are wise in their own conceits! In other words, they have
wisdom without knowledge. God hardened the hearts of the
Jews so that the Gentiles could have an opportunity for
salvation. I must say that by and large the Gentiles have made
a mess of the opportunity. They have taken their opportunity
and used it to create hatred for the rest of the world and even
among themselves. And their hatred for the Jews knows no
bounds. They have done exactly what Paul warned them
against. They have not realized that they are only branches and
not the root. They have conceived themselves to be the entire
tree and are even now being broken off so that the Jews can be
grafted in again.
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer
will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. For
this will be my covenant with them when I shall take away their
sins.
Is 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn
from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit
that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Paul used a Scripture from Isaiah to prove his point. The
prophecy given shows that it refers to the second coming of the
Messiah and not the first. The Messiah will soon return and
deliver the Jews. He will turn away their lack of reverence for
God and His plan. At that time, <all Israel> shall be saved.
They will be rescued from their ignorance about the Messiah.
They will be given an opportunity for justification by faith in the
Messiah and be brought back into the plan of salvation.
At that time, the law will go forth from Mount Zion. At that
time, the Jews will be at the summit of the world! We don't
want to look down on the Jews. We want to become a Jew
because only in that way can we be a part of the Kingdom of
God. The time is coming when the people of all nations will take
hold of the skirt of a Jew for they will come to understand that
God is with the Jews!
Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall
come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the
nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We
will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
This is a covenant that God has determined to make with the
Jews and all Israel. Soon God will give all Israel the opportunity
for salvation and Israel will become the head of all nations of the
world. Paul warned the Gentiles of his day to be careful about
being smug against the Jews. The Gentiles did not heed that
warning and their descendants have committed a grave error by
failing to understand and act according to Paul's admonition.
Now God's wrath will be upon the whole world for this sin.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out
of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes. But
as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Paul gives us two perspectives in this verse. From the
perspective of the gospel, God treats the Jews as enemies. This
results in benefits for the Gentiles. But for Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob's sakes God loves the Jews! They are the seed of the
fathers. They are elected or chosen of God because they are
Abraham's seed. God made promises to Abraham and his
descendants that He cannot and will not break. Abraham is the
father of all who will be in the Kingdom of God. Abraham is the
father of the faithful. If you consider yourself among the
faithful, among those who have faith in the Messiah for the
justification of your sins, you are saying in effect that you are a
son of Abraham.
Therefore, because the Jews are the chosen people of God, His
love will never die for them. Temporarily they have been
forsaken from the perspective of the gospel. But they will never
be forsaken entirely. Soon they will be brought back into a
close relationship with God and for all eternity they will be
respected by the nations of the world.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For God does not change His mind about whom he chooses and
blesses.
God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees for a very special
purpose. Abraham and his descendants were to be distinct from
the rest of the peoples of the world. God will not change His
mind. Certain blessings were given to Abraham in this regard
and God will not alter those blessings. The land of Canaan was
given to Israel forever! And the Messiah will rule from
Jerusalem, the holy city, in that possession. And God Himself
will come down to the earth and dwell in the New Jerusalem in
that possession. God has not cast off His people forever.
2 Chronicles 20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the
inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed
of Abraham thy friend for ever?
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For indeed, as you Gentiles once did not believe in God, but
have now become the objects of His mercy through the Jews'
unbelief; even so have the Jews now not believed in your mercy,
so that they will become the objects of His mercy. For God has
included all in unbelief, so that He might show mercy to all.
The Gentiles did not believe God before the plan of salvation
was opened up to them. After the Jews were given an
opportunity to believe but would have nothing to do with it, Paul
had turned to the Gentiles. So, at first the Jews believed in the
Old Covenant and the Gentiles would have nothing to do with
it. Now the Gentiles believed in the New Covenant and the
Jews would have nothing to do with that. The Jews' unbelief
made a way for the Gentiles to be shown mercy and brought
into the covenant. And just as the Gentiles were receiving
mercy, so too would the Jews one-day become the objects of
God's mercy.
One phrase in this section, "that through your mercy they also
may obtain mercy" should be discussed. There are several
different ways this part of the verse is translated. The way the
KJV translators have translated this phrase sounds like the
Jews are to receive salvation through the Gentiles. This idea
does not square with the rest of the Bible! As we have seen in
the study of this book already, salvation is of the Jews, not the
other way around.
The James Moffatt Translation Has verse 31 as follows:
V31: "in the same way they at present are disobedient, so that they in
turn may enjoy the same mercy as yourselves."
Darby has the following:
V31: so these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that
*they* also may be objects of mercy.
In other words, the Jews did not believe in or accept that what
the Gentiles had received was mercy from God. Therefore,
they are in the same category that the Gentiles were in
relationship to the Jews in the Old Covenant. God would now
be able to show the Jews mercy just as He had done for the
Gentiles in their unbelief.
So, God has included them all in unbelief so that He might have
mercy upon all.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy
they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have
mercy upon all.
O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of
God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past
finding out! For who has known God's mind? Who has been His
counselor? Who has ever given Him anything, obligating Him to
pay it back? For all things were created by Him. And all things
exist through Him and for Him. To God is the glory forever!
Amen.
There is no end to the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God!
No matter how deep we may go, He is deeper still! His
judgments are unsearchable. His ways are past finding out! We
cannot know the mind of God in all its complexity. No one
counsels Him in a condescending way. No one has obligated
God by giving Him anything. He created all things, for Himself
and through Himself. All glory belongs to God forever. Of this
we can be sure.
When I hear people speak about contradictions in the Word of
God, I shudder! There are no contradictions in God's word.
Surely we are not so ignorant that we would go so far as to
place God in the category with man! God is boundless in riches,
wisdom and knowledge. His judgments and ways are so far
beyond man that we cannot find them out in this lifetime. God
has no counselor who points his finger in His face and corrects
Him. God is not obligated to man in any way – except by His
own promises. All things belong to Him because He created
them all. All glory belongs to Him and He can be kind to whom
He will be kind and harden whom He will harden.
God has a plan He is working out here below. The Jews were in
His favor until they rejected the Messiah. The Gentiles have
received His favor for a time while the Jews have been
hardened. But eventually the Messiah will return and all Israel
will be brought into the plan of salvation. All of them will have
an opportunity for eternal life. The veil will be taken from their
eyes so they can see and God will shower His love upon them.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his
counselor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen.
This section ends Paul's direct correlation between the Jews
and the Gentiles in the book of Romans. He does discuss the
Jews' blindness in Corinthians. In this part he continues to liken
the Jews and Gentiles to an olive tree and branches. The Jews
are branches of a garden olive tree good for its produce. The
Gentiles are branches of a wild olive tree, inferior for its
produce. Some of the Jewish branches were broken off so that
the Gentile branches could be grafted in. This is Paul's analogy
to show that all people must have salvation through the stock of
Israel. All must become the children of Abraham in order to be
saved.
Paul warned that the Gentiles should be careful not to become
exalted in their own minds because God had kindness on them
and had hardened the Jews. For it was for their sakes that God
had done this. And it would be much easier for God to graft the
Jews back in than it was to graft in the wild branches of the
Gentiles. For the Jews already understood the law. They
understood the sacrifices of justification. All God had to do was
take away the veil and allow them to see that the Messiah was
the Sacrifice to replace all the animal sacrifices and they would
be easily brought into the New Covenant.
But all should know and understand that God will not take
kindly to those who look down their noses at the Jews. For
when the Messiah returns all Israel will be given an opportunity
for salvation. For they were chosen in Abraham and God does
not fail on His calling and promises. God is weaving His plan
according to His wisdom and knowledge. He is great and
without equal. We can know that God is in charge and will bring
everything to a conclusion based on His greatness.
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Commentaries
Chapters:
One
Two
Three
Four
Four Continued
Five
Six
Seven
Seven Continued
Eight
Eight Continued
become a Jew in order to be a part of the salvation process.
This was made possible because the Jews, for the most part,
were broken off like branches so that some of the Gentiles
could be grafted into the stock of Israel. For one must become a
seed of Abraham in order to be a part of the plan of salvation.
Now you will say, Yes, but the branches were broken off, that I
might be grafted in. That is true. But they were broken off
because of their unbelief. And you were established through
faith. So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in
awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He
certainly won't spare you!
Paul begins another rhetorical argument in verse 19. He had
shown that the Jews were cut off like branches so that the
Gentiles could be grafted in. Here he projects a possible
argument from the Gentiles. But, the branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in. The idea is one of some Gentile
looking down on the Jews. Some proud Gentile might feel that
God had rejected the Jews and brought them in for some
superior attribute of their own.
But Paul showed that it was because of an absence of faith that
the Jews were broken off. Further, it was because of their faith
in the Messiah that the Gentiles were being grafted in. Then
Paul warned those who were being grafted in that they should
understand that if God did not spare the natural branches (the
Jews), He certainly would not spare those who had been grafted
in (the Gentiles) if they should become guilty of a lack of faith.
History and the "Christian" religions of today show us that the
Gentiles did indeed fail to heed Paul's warning. They
transferred their faith to another "gospel". They began to look
down on the Jews and began a hate campaign to destroy them.
The Jews are called "Christ haters" and despised for their
nationality. The pride of these Gentiles is earning for them
destruction from God. It is contrary to all logic to hate those
who carry the name that we must bear in order to be in God's
Kingdom. We must remember that the Jews' shame is just for
the moment. Soon the Messiah will return to the earth to set up
His Kingdom. That Kingdom will be in Jerusalem! The Jews
will be exalted again. For the scepter will never depart from
Judah until the return of the Messiah. At that time He will
become their King. As He was a Jew, the scepter and the law
will never depart from Judah!
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by
faith. Be not high minded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also
spare not thee.
Therefore, understand the goodness and severity of God. On
those who fell, severity, but toward you, goodness – if you
continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Paul admonished the Gentiles that they should understand
God's kindness and severity. The Jews had received a severe
punishment of God because they had rejected the Messiah. The
Gentiles had received the kindness of God by being brought into
the plan of salvation because they had accepted the Messiah. If
they did not understand the reason for God's actions they would
be in danger of being cut off themselves. Unfortunately they did
forget the reason for God's kindness toward them. They
showed such hatred for the Jews that they gave up the Sabbath,
the law, and anything that reminded them of the Jews. They
must have forgotten that the Messiah was a Jew and that one
must become a Jew in order to be a part of the plan of
salvation. God's severity has fallen on them. They have been
excluded from salvation because they have rejected the faith
once delivered to the saints.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they shall be grafted in.
For God is able to graft them in again.
Salvation is still available to the Jews, if they are willing to
believe! God is more than able to graft them back into the
stock from which they were cut off. Today we see many Jews
turning to the Messiah. It is true that many of them are barely
walking at this point. But they will be able to make quick
progress because of their Jewish background. If they embrace
the Sabbath and the Messiah, understanding that the Messiah
was the Sacrifice to cover all sacrifices they will make quick
progress. This is the only difference in the first century Jews
and the first century believers. The Sabbath was not a problem
then, but because many Jews feel they must embrace Sunday in
order to embrace the Messiah, it has become an issue in these
last days.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in:
for God is able to graft them in again.
For you Gentiles were cut out of a wild olive tree and were
grafted, contrary to nature, into a garden olive tree. How much
easier shall these who are garden olive branches be grafted into
their own olive tree?
Paul is explaining in this verse just what I mentioned above and
what is happening today. The Gentiles who were grafted into
the garden olive tree (the stock of Abraham) are being cut off
and the Jews who were cut off are being grafted back in again
to the tree from which they were cut off. They will make fast
progress in healing the breach.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and
wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more
shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own
olive tree?
Brothers in the faith, I do not want you to be ignorant of this
mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits.
Blindness, in part, has happened to Israel, until the fullness of
the Gentiles has come in.
Paul explains a mystery in this verse. A mystery is something
hidden. Many groups have their mysteries. The church also has
its mysteries! One of them is that the Jews were blinded to the
truth so that they could not accept the Messiah in the main until
the fullness of the Gentiles should take place. Don't think
within yourself that this is a well-known mystery! It is generally
not believed at all, except by the true believers! That is the
reason the Jews are persecuted by those who are ignorant of
this mystery.
They are wise in their own conceits! In other words, they have
wisdom without knowledge. God hardened the hearts of the
Jews so that the Gentiles could have an opportunity for
salvation. I must say that by and large the Gentiles have made
a mess of the opportunity. They have taken their opportunity
and used it to create hatred for the rest of the world and even
among themselves. And their hatred for the Jews knows no
bounds. They have done exactly what Paul warned them
against. They have not realized that they are only branches and
not the root. They have conceived themselves to be the entire
tree and are even now being broken off so that the Jews can be
grafted in again.
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer
will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. For
this will be my covenant with them when I shall take away their
sins.
Is 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn
from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit
that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Paul used a Scripture from Isaiah to prove his point. The
prophecy given shows that it refers to the second coming of the
Messiah and not the first. The Messiah will soon return and
deliver the Jews. He will turn away their lack of reverence for
God and His plan. At that time, <all Israel> shall be saved.
They will be rescued from their ignorance about the Messiah.
They will be given an opportunity for justification by faith in the
Messiah and be brought back into the plan of salvation.
At that time, the law will go forth from Mount Zion. At that
time, the Jews will be at the summit of the world! We don't
want to look down on the Jews. We want to become a Jew
because only in that way can we be a part of the Kingdom of
God. The time is coming when the people of all nations will take
hold of the skirt of a Jew for they will come to understand that
God is with the Jews!
Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall
come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the
nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We
will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
This is a covenant that God has determined to make with the
Jews and all Israel. Soon God will give all Israel the opportunity
for salvation and Israel will become the head of all nations of the
world. Paul warned the Gentiles of his day to be careful about
being smug against the Jews. The Gentiles did not heed that
warning and their descendants have committed a grave error by
failing to understand and act according to Paul's admonition.
Now God's wrath will be upon the whole world for this sin.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out
of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes. But
as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Paul gives us two perspectives in this verse. From the
perspective of the gospel, God treats the Jews as enemies. This
results in benefits for the Gentiles. But for Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob's sakes God loves the Jews! They are the seed of the
fathers. They are elected or chosen of God because they are
Abraham's seed. God made promises to Abraham and his
descendants that He cannot and will not break. Abraham is the
father of all who will be in the Kingdom of God. Abraham is the
father of the faithful. If you consider yourself among the
faithful, among those who have faith in the Messiah for the
justification of your sins, you are saying in effect that you are a
son of Abraham.
Therefore, because the Jews are the chosen people of God, His
love will never die for them. Temporarily they have been
forsaken from the perspective of the gospel. But they will never
be forsaken entirely. Soon they will be brought back into a
close relationship with God and for all eternity they will be
respected by the nations of the world.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For God does not change His mind about whom he chooses and
blesses.
God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees for a very special
purpose. Abraham and his descendants were to be distinct from
the rest of the peoples of the world. God will not change His
mind. Certain blessings were given to Abraham in this regard
and God will not alter those blessings. The land of Canaan was
given to Israel forever! And the Messiah will rule from
Jerusalem, the holy city, in that possession. And God Himself
will come down to the earth and dwell in the New Jerusalem in
that possession. God has not cast off His people forever.
2 Chronicles 20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the
inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed
of Abraham thy friend for ever?
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For indeed, as you Gentiles once did not believe in God, but
have now become the objects of His mercy through the Jews'
unbelief; even so have the Jews now not believed in your mercy,
so that they will become the objects of His mercy. For God has
included all in unbelief, so that He might show mercy to all.
The Gentiles did not believe God before the plan of salvation
was opened up to them. After the Jews were given an
opportunity to believe but would have nothing to do with it, Paul
had turned to the Gentiles. So, at first the Jews believed in the
Old Covenant and the Gentiles would have nothing to do with
it. Now the Gentiles believed in the New Covenant and the
Jews would have nothing to do with that. The Jews' unbelief
made a way for the Gentiles to be shown mercy and brought
into the covenant. And just as the Gentiles were receiving
mercy, so too would the Jews one-day become the objects of
God's mercy.
One phrase in this section, "that through your mercy they also
may obtain mercy" should be discussed. There are several
different ways this part of the verse is translated. The way the
KJV translators have translated this phrase sounds like the
Jews are to receive salvation through the Gentiles. This idea
does not square with the rest of the Bible! As we have seen in
the study of this book already, salvation is of the Jews, not the
other way around.
The James Moffatt Translation Has verse 31 as follows:
V31: "in the same way they at present are disobedient, so that they in
turn may enjoy the same mercy as yourselves."
Darby has the following:
V31: so these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that
*they* also may be objects of mercy.
In other words, the Jews did not believe in or accept that what
the Gentiles had received was mercy from God. Therefore,
they are in the same category that the Gentiles were in
relationship to the Jews in the Old Covenant. God would now
be able to show the Jews mercy just as He had done for the
Gentiles in their unbelief.
So, God has included them all in unbelief so that He might have
mercy upon all.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy
they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have
mercy upon all.
O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of
God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past
finding out! For who has known God's mind? Who has been His
counselor? Who has ever given Him anything, obligating Him to
pay it back? For all things were created by Him. And all things
exist through Him and for Him. To God is the glory forever!
Amen.
There is no end to the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God!
No matter how deep we may go, He is deeper still! His
judgments are unsearchable. His ways are past finding out! We
cannot know the mind of God in all its complexity. No one
counsels Him in a condescending way. No one has obligated
God by giving Him anything. He created all things, for Himself
and through Himself. All glory belongs to God forever. Of this
we can be sure.
When I hear people speak about contradictions in the Word of
God, I shudder! There are no contradictions in God's word.
Surely we are not so ignorant that we would go so far as to
place God in the category with man! God is boundless in riches,
wisdom and knowledge. His judgments and ways are so far
beyond man that we cannot find them out in this lifetime. God
has no counselor who points his finger in His face and corrects
Him. God is not obligated to man in any way – except by His
own promises. All things belong to Him because He created
them all. All glory belongs to Him and He can be kind to whom
He will be kind and harden whom He will harden.
God has a plan He is working out here below. The Jews were in
His favor until they rejected the Messiah. The Gentiles have
received His favor for a time while the Jews have been
hardened. But eventually the Messiah will return and all Israel
will be brought into the plan of salvation. All of them will have
an opportunity for eternal life. The veil will be taken from their
eyes so they can see and God will shower His love upon them.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his
counselor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen.
This section ends Paul's direct correlation between the Jews
and the Gentiles in the book of Romans. He does discuss the
Jews' blindness in Corinthians. In this part he continues to liken
the Jews and Gentiles to an olive tree and branches. The Jews
are branches of a garden olive tree good for its produce. The
Gentiles are branches of a wild olive tree, inferior for its
produce. Some of the Jewish branches were broken off so that
the Gentile branches could be grafted in. This is Paul's analogy
to show that all people must have salvation through the stock of
Israel. All must become the children of Abraham in order to be
saved.
Paul warned that the Gentiles should be careful not to become
exalted in their own minds because God had kindness on them
and had hardened the Jews. For it was for their sakes that God
had done this. And it would be much easier for God to graft the
Jews back in than it was to graft in the wild branches of the
Gentiles. For the Jews already understood the law. They
understood the sacrifices of justification. All God had to do was
take away the veil and allow them to see that the Messiah was
the Sacrifice to replace all the animal sacrifices and they would
be easily brought into the New Covenant.
But all should know and understand that God will not take
kindly to those who look down their noses at the Jews. For
when the Messiah returns all Israel will be given an opportunity
for salvation. For they were chosen in Abraham and God does
not fail on His calling and promises. God is weaving His plan
according to His wisdom and knowledge. He is great and
without equal. We can know that God is in charge and will bring
everything to a conclusion based on His greatness.
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Commentaries
Chapters:
One
Two
Three
Four
Four Continued
Five
Six
Seven
Seven Continued
Eight
Eight Continued