Romans 10:21

21 But regarding Israel, God said, “All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

Romans 10:21 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 10:21

But to Israel he saith
Or against Israel, or concerning Israel he saith in the same prophecy in ( Isaiah 65:2 ) .

All day long I have stretched forth my hands, unto a disobedient and
gainsaying people:
very rightly does the apostle apply these words to Israel, as he does the former to the Gentiles; and just in like manner does the above mentioned Jewish writer, R. Moses the priest, interpret them. The Lord's "stretching out [his] hands all the day long" to them, designs the ministry of the prophets one after another to them, the preaching of John the Baptist, of Christ and his apostles among them: but they were a stiffnecked and rebellious people, uncircumcised in heart and ears; would have none of his counsel, and despised his reproof; contradicted and blasphemed the word; rejected the Messiah and his Gospel; killed the Prince of life, and persecuted his apostles; so that it was just with God to write a "Lo-ammi", ( Hosea 1:9 ) , upon them, and cast them off; and, to pave the way for the account of the rejection of these people in the next chapter, is all this said, and these testimonies produced.

Romans 10:21 In-Context

19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”

20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”

21 But regarding Israel, God said, “All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Isa 65:2 (Greek version).