Romans 10

12 The Jewish law has been replaced by Christ. For both Jews and Gentiles a new way of obtaining righteousness and salvation has been opened up. Now there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; Christ is Lord of all (see Romans 3:29; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11 and comments). And Christ richly blesses all who call on him—that is, He gives them spiritual riches.

13 Paul here quotes Joel, one of the Old Testament prophets: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). This calling on the Lord’s name doesn’t mean just saying some words. To truly call on the name of the Lord, it is necessary to first believe in Him. Without faith, calling on the Lord is useless (see Hebrews 11:6). Calling on the name of the Lord always means believing in the Lord; that’s why everyone who calls on His name will be saved.

14 Therefore, before calling on the Lord’s name, there must be faith. But before there can be faith, there must be hearing. And in order to hear, there must be a preacher.

15 Who will be sent to preach? It’s not only Paul but God Himself who is asking us that question. The feet of preachers (those who bring good news) are beautiful, Isaiah says (Isaiah 52:7). According to a Jewish saying, a man with “beautiful feet” is a man worthy to be welcomed.

16 But not all Jews accepted the good news that was preached to them. Indeed, most of them did not. They refused to believe not only Christ but their own prophets as well (Isaiah 53:1). That is why Paul has such great sorrow concerning the Jews (Romans 9:2).

17 Here Paul repeats the thought of verse 14. Hearing should result in faith; but in the case of the Jews it did not.

18 Why didn’t the Jews believe? Was it because they didn’t hear the Gospel? No. Because the Gospel had been preached to the ends of the world. Here Paul quotes from Psalm 19:4. The Jews had heard, but they hadn’t heeded.

19 Why didn’t the Jews heed the Gospel? Was it because they didn’t understand the word of Christ, the Gospel? No. They certainly understood it. Their own Scriptures (the Old Testament) spoke clearly of the coming of Christ. In Deuteronomy, which Paul quotes here, Moses,⁵⁷ predicted that the Jews would be made envious by those who are not a nation—that is, the Gentiles—and they would be made angry by a nation (the Gentiles) that has no understanding (Deuteronomy 32:21). And indeed that very thing happened: the Jews became envious and angry with the Gentiles because the Gentiles were receiving salvation and the Jews were not. Those who had understanding (the Jews) rejected the Gospel, while those with no understanding (the Gentiles) accepted the Gospel!

20 Here God says through the prophet Isaiah: “I was found by those (the Gentiles) who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those (the Gentiles) who did not ask for me” (Isaiah 65:1).

Is this not true for us also? God first found us when we weren’t even seeking Him. He revealed Himself to us when we weren’t even asking about Him. Such is His great mercy! (see Romans 5:8).

21 Therefore, the Jews both heard and understood the Gospel. Why then did they not heed it? Because they were a disobedient and obstinate people (Isaiah 65:2). Unbelief is always disobedience in God’s eyes. If a man says, “I cannot believe,” what he’s really saying is, “I will not obey.”

But notice the patience of God toward disobedient (unbelieving) men. God says: “All day long I have held out my hands. …”