In chapter 9, Paul looked back at the past to how the Jews became God’s special people. God in His Sovereignty chose them. Now, here in chapter 10, Paul looks at where his people are at the present. He knows that they may be chosen but they are lost. He reveals his desire for them to be saved. Remember his words in chapter 9, verses 2-3 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a] my kinsmen according to the flesh. Can you hear his heart for them?

Romans 10:1-4 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

He tells us straight out why they will not come to Christ. It is self-righteousness. They don’t think that they need Jesus’s righteousness. They are the Jews. They are God’ chosen. They have their own righteousness but Paul is saying God is so much bigger than just one nation. He has come to save the world.

 ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8-13

Paul has been called by God to preach the gospel to all. Isreal could have been the gospel preaching nation. ..but they wouldnt have it.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Romans 10:16

It seem that Isreal did not understand it’s own prophecies:

Romans 10:16-21  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

¹⁸ 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.”

¹⁹ 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.”

²⁰ 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.”

²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

God and the prophets had foretold of how the Jews would respond to the message of the gospel to the whole world. They were not caught unaware. They were caught unbelieving and disobedient.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla