Romans 10:2

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. FOR I BEAR THEM RECORD (or, 'witness') - as well he could from his own sad experience, THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF ('FOR') GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE (cf. ; Acts 26:9; Galatians 1:13). He alludes to this well-meaning of his people, notwithstanding their spiritual blindness, not certainly to excuse their rejection of Christ and rage against His saints, but as some ground of hope regarding them (see ). Self-righteousness was the fatal rock on which Israel was split-Christ the divinely-provided, div...

2._For I bear to them a testimony, etc. _This was intended to secure credit to his love. There was indeed a just cause why he should regard them with compassion rather than hatred, since he perceived that they had fallen only through ignorance, and not through malignancy of mind, and especially as he saw that they were not led except by some regard for God to persecute the kingdom of Christ. Let us hence learn where our good intentions may guide us, if we yield to them. It is commonly thought a good and a very fit excuse, when he who is reproved pretends that he meant no harm. And this pretext is held good by many at this day, so that they apply not their minds to find out the truth of God, because they think that whatever they do amiss through ignorance, without any designed maliciousness, but with good intention, is excusable. But no one of us would excuse the Jews for having crucified...

1-4 The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith, and numbers in every age do the same in various ways. The strictness of the law showed men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. And the ceremonies shadowed forth Christ as fulfilling the righteousness, and bearing the curse of the law. So that even under the law, all who were justified before God, obtained that blessing by faith, whereby they were made partakers of the perfect righteousness of the promised Redeemer. The law is not destroyed, nor the intention of the Lawgiver disappointed; but full satisfaction being made by the death of Christ for our breach of the law, the end is gained. That is, Christ has fulfilled the whole law, therefore whoever believeth in him, is counted just before God, as much as though he had fulfilled the whole law himself. Sinners never could go...

Verse Romans 10:2. _THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD_] They believe their law to have come immediately from God himself, and are jealous of its glory and excellence; they conscientiously observe its rites and ceremonies, but they do not consider the _object_ and _end_ of those rites; they sin more through ignorance than malice; and this pleads in their excuse. By this fine apology for them, the apostle prepares them for the harsher truths which he was about to deliver....

FOR I BEAR THEM RECORD - To bear record means to be a witness; to give evidence. This, Paul was well qualified to do. He had been a Jew of the strictest order Acts 26:5; Philippians 3:5, and he well knew the extraordinary exertions which they put forth to obey the commands of the Law. A ZEAL OF GOD - A zeal for God. Thus, John 2:17,” The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;” an earnest desire for the honor of the sanctuary has wholly absorbed my attention; compare Psalms 69:9; Acts 21:20, “Thou se

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_)

FOR I BEAR THEM RECORD, THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD,.... A zeal for God; for the being and unity of God, against the polytheism and idolatry of the Gentiles; for the word of God, the writings of the Old Testament, of which they were zealous defenders and preservers, and which they diligently read and heard explained, and whereby they thought to obtain eternal life; for the law of God, moral and ceremonial, especially for the rituals of the Mosaic economy; for the service and worship of God, they spared no pains, but compassed sea and land to bring in proselytes to their religion; all which the apostle could testify from his own knowledge, and by his own experience, who had been as great a zealot as any of them all. But now whilst the apostle is expressing his strong affection for this people, he is careful to act the faithful part to them, and points out their mistakes, and shows them t...

Romans 10:1. _Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved._ Let this be our «heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel.» Sorrows upon sorrows have come to the Lord's ancient people even down to this day; and they have been scattered and peeled, and rent and torn in almost every land. Who does not pity their griefs and woes? Let it be our heart's desire and daily prayer for Israel that they may be saved through faith in the Messiah whom they have so long rejected. Romans 10:2. _For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge._ In Paul's day, they were most diligent in the observance of every form of outward devotion, and many of them sincerely desired to be right with God; but they did not kno

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

ROMANS 9:30 TO ROMANS 10:4. Paul has discussed the Jewish situation as from God's side; he proceeds to point out, from man's side, THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL'S STUMBLING. This chs. 3- 5 have prepared us to understand. ROMANS 9:30_ A_. The paradox is that Gentiles, who were out of the way of righteousness, have obtained it; while Israel, intent upon a law of righteousness, missed the mark, because it rejected the way of faith (which Gentiles took), preferring that of works. In other words (Romans 10:3), Israel wanted to set up its own righteousness (_cf._ Php_3:6; Php_3:9) and did not recognise nor submit to God's righteousn