Romans 10:18-21

                                                             Romans 10:18-21

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

The main point of this section of Romans is to explain how the Gospel being expanding amongst the Gentiles impacts the nation of Israel.  The answer is that the only impact is one that as favorable to Israel.  Paul wants to demonstrate that Israel continues to be in the heart of God and He continues to reach out to them in grace and with patience.  The reception of the Gentiles does not require the rejection of the Jews.

 

ISRAEL HAS HEARD:  Paul wants to demonstrate that the Jews are without excuse before God for their lack of faith.  Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, nobody had heard the Word more than Israel.  In fact, the voice of Israel has sounded forth in all the world proves that they had heard.  Since they were the main proponents of the Word of God, they could not argue that they had not heard.  The problem is that they did not believe what they heard.

 

ISRAEL HAS UNDERSTOOD: The next possible argument could be that they would claim that they did not understand the word.  However, that argument does not hold water either, because the Gentile nations who had far less revelation are understanding and believing.  Scripture foretold that this would happen as a means of making the nation jealous so they might turn and believe.

 

ISRAEL HAS REJECTED:  The reality of the problem is that Israel has simply rejected the revelation of God and refused to believe the Gospel.  They have no excuse and no one to blame but themselves.  The same is true of every person on the planet.  God has revealed Himself to everyone in some way.  Those who reject that revelation are justly condemned before God and are without excuse.

 

APPLICATION: No generation has received as much revelation as we have received.  We are responsible to obey what has been revealed to us.  As believers, God has gone so far as to reveal Himself in us by His Holy Spirit.  We are truly blessed and truly responsible to trust and obey.

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