Romans 10:19

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. BUT I SAY, DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW? - that is, from their own Scriptures, of God's intention to bring in the Gentiles? FIRST, MOSES SAITH - or, 'was the first (in the prophetic line) to say,' I WILL PROVOKE YOU TO JEALOUSY BY [THEM THAT ARE] NO PEOPLE, [ ep' (G1909) ouk (G3756) ethnei (G1484)] - not 'against' (as the Vulgate), nor 'by' (as Beza and our version), but 'on account of a no-nation' [see Fritzsche on the force of epi ...

19._But I say, has not Israel known? _This objection of an opponent is taken from the comparison of the less with the greater. Paul had argued, that the Gentiles were not to be excluded from the knowledge of God, since he had from the beginning manifested himself to them, though only obscurely and through shadows, or had at least given them some knowledge of his truth. What then is to be said of Israel, who had been illuminated by a far different light of truth? for how comes it that aliens and the profane should run to the light manifested to them afar off, and that the holy race of Abraham should reject it when familiarly seen by them? For this distinction must be ever borne in mind, “What nation is so renowned, that it has gods coming nigh to it, as thy God at this day descends to thee?” It was not then without reason asked, why knowledge had not followed the doctrine of the law, with...

18-21 Did not the Jews know that the Gentiles were to be called in? They might have known it from Moses and Isaiah. Isaiah speaks plainly of the grace and favour of God, as going before in the receiving of the Gentiles. Was not this our own case? Did not God begin in love, and make himself known to us when we did not ask after him? The patience of God towards provoking sinners is wonderful. The time of God's patience is called a day, light as day, and fit for work and business; but limited as a day, and there is a night at the end of it. God's patience makes man's disobedience worse, and renders that the more sinful. We may wonder at the mercy of God, that his goodness is not overcome by man's badness; we may wonder at the wickedness of man, that his badness is not overcome by God's goodness. And it is a matter of joy to think that God has sent the message of grace to so many millions, b...

Verse 19. _BUT I SAY, DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW?_] You object to this preaching among the _Gentiles_; but is not this according to the positive declaration of God? He, foreseeing your unbelief and rebellion, said by Moses, Deuteronomy 32:21, _I will provoke you to jealousy by_ them that are _no people, and by_ _a foolish nation I will anger you_. As you have provoked me to jealousy with worshipping those that are _no gods_, I will provoke you to jealousy by those which are _no people_. This most evidently refers to the _calling_ or _inviting_ of the Gentiles to partake of the benefits of the Gospel; and plainly predicts the envy and rage which would be excited in the Jews, in consequence of those offers of mercy made to the Gentiles....

BUT I SAY ... - Still further to meet the objection, he shows that the doctrine which he was maintaining was actually taught in the Old Testament. DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW? - Did not the Jews understand. Is it not recorded in their books, etc. that they had full opportunity to be acquainted with this truth? This question is an emphatic way of affirming that they did know. But Paul does not here state what it was that they knew. That is to be gathered from what he proceeds to say. From that it appears that he referred to the fact that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles, and that the Jews were to be cast off. This doctrine followed from what he had already maintained in Romans 10:12, that there was no difference in regard to the terms of salvation, and that the Jew had no particular privileges. If so, then the b

EXPOSITION In this chapter the view of the whole subject introduced at Romans 9:30 is continued and carried out, according to which the present rejection of the Jews as a nation is traced to no absolute and irreversible Divine decree, but to their own refusal to accept God's plan of mercy to all mankind; testimonies being, as usual, adduced from the Old Testament in support of the argument. But, before proceeding, the apostle renews expression of his regret (cf. Romans 9:1, _seq._)_ _at the present position of his countrymen, and his earnest desire that it should be otherwise. ROMANS 10:1 BRETHREN, MY HEART'S DESIRE (εὐδοκία, expressing _good will_)

BUT I SAY, DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW? etc.] Some supply the word "God", did not Israel know God? verily, they did; they knew the being and perfections of God, the unity of God, and the trinity of persons in the divine essence; they knew the will of God, and the right way of worshipping him; for they were favoured with a divine revelation; to them were committed the oracles of God, and to them belonged the giving of the "Gospel", did not Israel know the Gospel? yes, they did; they not only heard it, but knew it; not spiritually and experimentally, but nationally and speculatively, and, against the light and conviction of their own minds, obstinately rejected it with contempt: but I rather think this question refers to the calling of the Gentiles, and their own rejection; and the sense is, did not Israel know, that the Gentiles were to be called by the grace of God, and that they themselves were...

Romans 10:1. _Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved._ They had hunted Paul from city to city, but the only feeling for them that he had was a wish that they might be saved. Such a wish as that should be in the heart of every Christian; his desire for his bitterest enemy should be that he may be saved. Romans 10:2. _For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge._ We should always give people credit for every good thing that there is in them: it will often enable us all the better to point out other matters in which they are deficient. So Paul put it on record, concerning the Jews of his time, that they had a zeal for God, though it was not a zeal «according to knowledge.»...

CHAPTER 10 _ 1. Israel's Condition. (Romans 10:1 .)_ 2. Righteousness by Works and by Faith. (Romans 10:5 .) 3. The Gospel Published Abroad. (Romans 10:14 .) 4. Israel's Unbelief. (Romans 10:18 .) Romans 10:1 For His beloved people Israel the great apostle of the Gentiles prayed to God, that they might be saved. What an example he has given to us believers of the Gentiles. We owe a great debt to Israel; but how little prayer there is among Gentile Christians for the salvation of the Jews! Paul bears witness th

THE REJECTORS OF GOD'S MESSAGE. Romans 10:16. Hearing the glad tidings is the opportunity of salvation: can it be that they did not hear? Nay, surely, the sound has reached every land. Not hearing, but _obedience_ was to seek. Romans 10:19. Or should we put it that Israel did not know? the double I say (Romans 10:18 f.) marks the repetition of the same question in another form: to know is to hear understandingly (see Romans 10:2; _cf._ Matthew 13:14 f.). _Israel_ should have known (_cf._...