Observe here, 1. The apostle's solemn asseveration or oath; he calls Christ and the Holy Ghost to witness for the truth of what he says, which is the very formality of an oath. Learn thence, That it is not barely lawful, but in some cases expedient and necessary to assert and confirm by oath the tr... [ Continue Reading ]
The original word signifies such sorrow as is found with women in travail;. sorrow continually affecting his heart, and afflicting his spirit, for his countrymen and kinsmen the Jews, upon the account of their obstinate infidelity, obduration of heart, and spirit of slumber which was fallen upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "So great is my concern for the salvation of my brethren the Jews, that. could undergo the greatest misery and evil that can befall myself, to prevent their destruction." This wish of St. Paul is plainly an hyperbolical expression of his great affection to his countrymen the Jews, and his... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, to vindicate himself for bearing such. passionate affection to the Jews, and for being so highly concerned for their eternal welfare, doth in these two verses recount and sum up the high privileges and prerogatives belonging to the Jews above any other nation under heaven: namely these,... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle answers an objection against the rejection of the Jews: "If they cast off by God, what will become of the promise of God, made to Abraham, saying, I WILL BE THY GOD, AND THE GOD OF THY SEED? He answers, by distinguishing. two-fold seed that Abraham had. Some were only his carnal se... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having in the foregoing verses proved, from what was done in Abraham's family, that it was the purpose and pleasure of God to account only those for Abraham's seed who were the children of his faith, and to reject the rest for their unbelief; in these verses he prosecutes the same argume... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having by the two foregoing instances asserted his doctrine, concerning the purpose and decree of God to justify those that should believe in his Son, be they Gentiles or Jews: and consequently made it good, that no word or promise of God falls to the ground by the rejection of the unbel... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "The foregoing instances abundantly show, THAT IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH; for Abraham willed that Ishmael might live to be partaker of the blessing promised to his seed, when he said, O THAT ISHMAEL MIGHT LIVE BEFORE THEE! Genesis 17:18 Nor is it of him that runneth:... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here proceeds to remove another objection, namely, the seeming injustice or severity of rejecting the Jews, and reserving them to wrath, giving them up to an obdurate heart, because they would not accept of the way which the wisdom of God had appointed for their justification; namely, fa... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "From these scripture instances we may gather and conclude, that God may without the least injustice magnify his mercy, in sparing and pardoning some sinners, and render his justice glorious in punishing others; yea, in punishing sin with sin, hardening them judicially, who had ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle brings in the unbelieving and rejected Jews making an objection against God: "If the case be thus, that God doth sometimes, and that justly, leave abdurate sinners to harden themselves, why is he offended at it, and complains of it? If God hardeneth us because he will, why doth he f... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "What though God doth not presently punish the obstinate and unbelieving Jews according to their desert, but beareth with them, and exercises forbearance towards them, and they go on by their continual rebellions to make themselves fit objects of his wrath; but he is plea... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having hitherto vindicated the wisdom and righteousness of God in the rejection of the Jews, and calling of the Gentiles; lest the Jews should stumble and take offence at it, in these and the following verses he proves, that the calling of the Gentiles was long before foretold, both by t... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle shows how the reduction of the obdurate Jews was foretold by Isaiah as well as Hosea: That although the number of the Jews, according to the flesh, were as the sand of the sea, yet the greatest number of them would be passed by for their unbelief, and. remnant only saved. This the p... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Lord, what shall we say to this great mystery of grace, the calling of the Gentile world, and the cutting off and casting away most of the present Jewish nation? That the Gentiles who lived in ignorance and blindness, in sin and unrighteousness, should attain to righteou... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What use and office our Lord Jesus Christ is of to his church: he is. stone,. corner-stone, the chief corner-stone;. corner-stone for strength, the chief corner-stone for ornament and beauty. As the corner-stone bears the weight of the building, so doth Christ bear the weight of his... [ Continue Reading ]