ROMANS 10:12-21
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor.6:17-18).
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him” (Heb.5:9).


5
(10:18-21) Israel vs. Gentiles: Israel’s disobedience proves the gospel is universal. Why did Israel not obey the gospel?
1. Israel’s disobedience was not because they did not hear the Word of God (v.18). The very opposite is true.
Israel was the very custodian of the Scriptures, the very people whom God had chosen to bring salvation to the world (see
note—Jn.4:2 for discussion). No matter where the Jewish people were scattered, they had the Word of God and heard it.
(Note that Paul quotes Ps.19:4 as Scriptural proof of what he says.)
2. Israel’s disobedience was not because the people did not know the truth (v.19). They knew the truth, and they had a
dynamic example and demonstration of the truth. They had the example of the Gentiles who turned to the gospel in great
numbers.
Note how Scripture words this: “I will provoke you to jealousy.” Israel had the stirrings of jealousy and envy to help them
turn to the gospel. They heard and knew. Their disobedience to the gospel was not because they were ignorant of the gospel.
The gospel was actually lived out before their faces in the person of Jesus Christ and in the Gentiles turning to Christ for
salvation. (Again, Paul supports his point from the Old Testament, Dt.32:21; Is.65:1.)
3. Israel’s rejection was because they were a disobedient and obstinate people. Note how good God had been to Israel.
a. God “stretched forth His hands”: inviting, offering forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation, pleading and
begging for Israel to return to Him.
b. “All day long”: being patient, longsuffering, and forebearing, bearing for a long time, waiting until the
last moment to turn away.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil
ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezk.33:11).
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath
smitten, and he will bind us up” (Hos.6:1).
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor.5:20).
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev.3:20).

However, Israel refused and rejected God’s gracious invitations. Israel chose to remain disobedient and obstinate. They
closed their minds despite the clear evidence and refused to consider the truth of Christ as the true Savior of the world.

“Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness”
(Ps.95:8).
“Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief”
(Pr.28:14).
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without
remedy” (Pr.29:1).
“But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day
of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Ro.2:5).
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin” (Heb.3:13).

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