Romans 9:12

_IT WAS SAID UNTO HER, THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

12._The elder shall serve the younger _See how the Lord makes a difference between the sons of Isaac, while they were as yet in their mother’s womb; for this was the heavenly answer, by which it appeared that God designed to show to the younger peculiar favor, which he denied to the elder. Though this indeed had reference to the right of primogeniture, yet in this, as the symbol of something greater, was manifested the will of God: and that this was the case we may easily perceive, when we consider what little benefit, according to the flesh, Jacob derived from his primogeniture. For he was, on its account, exposed to great danger; and to avoid this danger, he was obliged to quit his home and his country, and was unkindly treated in his exile: when he returned, he tremblingly, and in doubt of his life, prostrated himself at the feet of his brother, humbly asked forgiveness for his offenc...

6-13 The rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatenings shall be fulfilled. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God therein wrought according to the counsel of his own will. God foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born in sin, by nature children of wrath even as others. If left to themselves they would have continued in sin through life; but for wise and holy reasons, not made known to us, he purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his perverseness. This instance of Esau and Jacob throws light upon the Divine conduct to the fallen race of man. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward privileges are bestowed...

Verse Romans 9:12. _THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER_] These words, with those of Malachi, _Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated_, are cited by the apostle to prove, according to their typical signification, that the _purpose of God, according to election_, does and will stand, not of _works_, but of _him that calleth_; that is, that the _purpose of God_, which is the ground of that _election_ which he makes among men, unto the honour of being Abraham's seed, might appear to remain unchangeable in him; and to be even the _same_ which he had declared unto Abraham. That these words are used in a _national_ and not in a _personal_ sense, is evident from this: that, taken in the latter sense they are _not true_, for _Jacob_ never did exercise any power over _Esau_, nor was Esau ever _subject_ to him. Jacob, on the contr...

IT WAS SAID UNTO HER - By Yahweh; see Genesis 25:23. THE ELDER - The oldest son, which was Esau. By the law of primogeniture among the Hebrews, he would have been entitled to special honors and privileges. But it was said that in his case this custom should be reversed, and that he should take the rank of the younger. SHOULD SERVE - Shall be subject to; shall not have the authority and priority, but should be inferior to. The passage in Genesis Genesis 25:23 shows that this had reference particularly to the posterity of Esau, and not to him as an individual. The sense is, that the descendants of Esau, who were Edomites, should be inferior to, and subject to the descendants of Jacob. Jacob

EXPOSITION ROMANS 11:1 2. _The present position and prospects of the Jewish nation con-sidereal._ ROMANS 9:1 (1) _Deep regret expressed for the present exclusion of the Jewish nation from inheritance of the promises. _This section is not necessary for the main argument of the Epistle, which would have been complete without it for an exposition of God's righteousness, Romans 12:1. following naturally the conclusion of Romans 8:1., and these intervening chapters having no immediate connection with the preceding or succeeding context. But it was a subject too deeply

IT WAS SAID UNTO HER,.... To Rebecca, Genesis 25:23, THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER, or "the greater shall serve the lesser", an Hebrew way of speaking; so Japheth is called הגדול, "the great", or, as we render it, "the elder", Genesis 10:21; and the evil imagination is said i to be גדול, "greater", that is, elder than the good, thirteen years; Luke 22:26; The sense is, Esau shall be a servant to Jacob; which is to be understood, not of temporal servitude; for in this sense he never was a servant to him; so far from it, that as soon as Jacob had got the birthright and blessing, he was obliged to flee from the face and fury of Esau; and upon his return after many years, he sent messengers to Esau in a v

The Jews thought that God must certainly save them. They thought they had a birth claim. Were they not the children of Abraham? Surely they had some right to it. This chapter battles the question of right. No man has any right to the grace of God. The terms are inconsistent. There can be no right to that which is free favor. We are all condemned criminals, and if pardoned, it must be as the result of pure mercy, absolute mercy, for desert there is none in any one of us. Romans 9:1. _I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart._ He never thought about his unbelieving brethren, without the deepest imaginable regret. How far is this from the spirit of those who look upon the ungodly without tears settle it down as a matter that cannot be altered, and take it as a q

II. DISPENSATIONAL. GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL. Chapter s 9-11. 1. Israel and God's Sovereignty. CHAPTER 9 _ 1. Paul's Yearning over Israel. (Romans 9:1 .)_ 2. What Israel Possesseth. (Romans 9:4 .) 3. God's Unconditional Election. (Romans 9:6 .) 4. God's Sovereignty. The Vindication of His Justice and Mercy. (Romans 9:14 .) 5. Mercy for the Remnant. (Romans 9:27 .) 6. Israel's Rejection of God's Righteousness. (Romans 9

GOD'S FREE ELECTION. Romans 9:6. We must distinguish: to be of Israel, is not to be Israel. Mere physical heredity counts for nothing: Isaac was the proper seed of Abraham, designated as the child of promise (Genesis 21:12, etc.). Here Isaac's case illustrates the sovereignty of God; in Romans 4:18, the efficacy of faith. Romans 9:10. The case of Esau and Jacob is equally significant. Twin offspring of the same parents, the unborn babes had done nothing to achieve merit or display worth, when God said, The elder shall serve the younger, an election governing the history of the descendant peoples ...