Romans 11:30

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: FOR AS YE IN TIMES PAST HAVE NOT BELIEVED (OR, 'OBEYED') GOD - that is, yielded not to God "the obedience of faith," while strangers to Christ, YET HAVE NOW OBTAINED MERCY THROUGH (BY OCCASION OF) THEIR UNBELIEF (see the notes at ; ; );...

22-32 Of all judgments, spiritual judgments are the sorest; of these the apostle is here speaking. The restoration of the Jews is, in the course of things, far less improbable than the call of the Gentiles to be the children of Abraham; and though others now possess these privileges, it will not hinder their being admitted again. By rejecting the gospel, and by their indignation at its being preached to the Gentiles, the Jews were become enemies to God; yet they are still to be favoured for the sake of their pious fathers. Though at present they are enemies to the gospel, for their hatred to the Gentiles; yet, when God's time is come, that will no longer exist, and God's love to their fathers will be remembered. True grace seeks not to confine God's favour. Those who find mercy themselves, should endeavour that through their mercy others also may obtain mercy. Not that the Jews will be...

Verse 30. _FOR AS YE IN TIMES PAST_] The apostle pursues his argument in favour of the restoration of the Jews. _As ye_, Gentiles, _in times past_-for many ages back. _HAVE NOT BELIEVED_] Were in a state of alienation from God, _yet_ not so as to be totally and for ever excluded, _HAVE NOW OBTAINED MERCY_] For ye are now taken into the kingdom of the Messiah; through _their unbelief_-by that method which, in destroying the Jewish _peculiarity_, and fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant, has occasioned the unbelief and obstinate opposition of the Jews....

FOR AS YE - You who were Gentiles. IN TIMES PAST - Before the gospel was preached. This refers to the former idolatrous and sinful state of the pagan world; compare Ephesians 2:2; Acts 14:16. HAVE NOT BELIEVED GOD - Or have not obeyed God. This was the character of all the pagan nations. YET HAVE NOW OBTAINED MERCY - Have been pardoned and admitted to the favor of God. THROUGH THEIR UNBELIEF - By means of the unbelief and rejection of the Jews; see the note at Romans 11:11....

EXPOSITION ROMANS 11:1 (4) _The_ _Jews are not finally rejected, but, through the calling of the Gentiles, will be brought into the Church at last. _St. Paul, painfully recognizing the fact of the present exclusion of Israel as a nation from the inheritance of the promises made to their fathers, and having in Romans 9:1. and 10. accounted for and justified such exclusion, proceeds now to the question—But is Israel as a nation finally rejected after all? He answers—No; impossible! God's ancient covenant with his people stands; the remnant of believers even now is a sign of his continued favour to his ancient people, as was, in the time of Elijah, the remnant that had not bowed the knee to Baal; nor does the fact of its being a remnant only imply now, any more

FOR AS YE IN TIMES PAST HAVE NOT BELIEVED GOD,.... The times referred to, are the times of ignorance, idolatry, and superstition; when God suffered the Gentiles, for many hundreds of years, to walk in their own ways; while the Jews were his favourite people, were chosen by him above all people, separated from them, and distinguished by his goodness; had his word and oracles, his judgments and his statutes to direct them, and many other valuable blessings: the times before the coming of the Messiah are here meant, when these people sat in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death; till Christ, who came to lighten the Gentiles, sent his Gospel among them, and which has been attended with great success; in these times they were in a state of incredulity: they either, as some of them, did not believe there was a God, or that there was but one God, at least but very few believed it;...

ISRAEL'S RESTORATION. CHAPTER 11 (“The Jewish Question”, by A. C. G., gives a complete exposition of this great chapter.) _ 1. God Hath not Cast Away His People. (Romans 11:1 .)_ 2. Israel's Apostasy not Complete; a Remnant Saved. (Romans 11:2 .) 3. Israel's Blindness for a Season. (Romans 11:7 .) 4. To Provoke Them to Jealousy. (Romans 11:11 .) 5. Their Fulness and Reception Life from the Dead. (Romans 11:12 .) 6. The Parable of the Two Olive Trees. ...

THE MYSTERY OF ISRAEL'S FUTURE. Romans 11:25_ a_. It may save Gentile believers from a dangerous self-conceit (_cf. Romans 12:16_) to learn the secret that the hardening (see Romans 11:7) which has partially befallen Israel (the remnant is exempt; Romans 11:5; Romans 11:7), will last only until the full complement of the nations enters into God's kingdom; then all Israel will be saved. A _mystery_ is a secret truth concerning God's kingdom made known by express revelation; _cf._...

THE CALLUS ON THE HEART (Romans 11:1-12)...

IN TIMES PAST. at one time (_pote_). HAVE NOT BELIEVED. disobeyed. See Romans 2:8. OBTAINED MERCY. Literally were pitied. THROUGH. No preposition. UNBELIEF. disobedience. Greek. _apeitheia,_ Also Romans 11:32.Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:11....