Chapter 11:1-10            Has God cast away His people Israel?

 

In this chapter Paul looks at how God currently still deals with Jews, and then after verse 23, he looks at the nation Israel’s future after our age is finished.

1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

 

(Vs 1.) The fact that individual Jews like Paul can still get saved from the penalty of their sin, proves that God has not cast off His people Israel. Rather, He has given them another opportunity to be His people, along with Gentiles, in the body of Christ. (Rom 10:11-13; Gal 3:28; Eph 2:11-18)

 

(Vs 2.) What does it mean that God "foreknew" His people Israel? Before God ever formed Israel, He had a plan for them to be His holy nation of priests, ruling for Him on planet earth. (Ex 19:6; Is 2:1-4; 60:1-3,12) In God’s plan, man has free choice. (Deut 30:19) God did not want Israel to make some of the decisions they did, (example Mat 23:37), yet God’s promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3&17:7,8; Deut 7:6-9) and His plan for Israel stand, regardless of how few Jews believe Him. (Rom 3:3,4)

 

(Vs 3 & 4.) Elijah (Elias) lived in a similar time when it looked like all of Israel was against God. But God knew those who were His, even though they were not standing with Elijah. (I Kings 19; To "bow the knee to the image of Baal" means to join a man made religion.)

 

(Vs 5.) Likewise, now in our time period, there is a "remnant", a small fraction of the whole Jewish race, that believes Paul’s message of grace and has joined God’s elect in the body of Christ. "The election" means those who are chosen. (Strong’s Concordance; Eph 1:4-6) In this age of grace (Rom 6:14), God chooses to save those who believe. (I Cor 1:21)

 

(Vs 6.) If people get into God’s elect now by grace, then works are not required or accepted for salvation. (Rom 4:5; Eph 2:8,9) Grace by definition is unearned kindness. In time past under the law, works were required. (Mat 19:16-21) But now, if any kind of work is added, then grace is deleted, and people don’t get saved. You can not depend on God’s grace and your own works at the same time. It’s one or the other. The message of grace that Paul taught can not be mixed with works and still maintain it’s power to save people. For example, if a person thinks that Christ died on the cross, but that he still must confess his sins, keep the law, or do something else to be saved, what is he trusting? Christ? Or his own works? Is he saved? *see below

 

(Vs 7.) What did Israel seek for? See Rom 9:30-32 and 10:1-3. They sought God’s acceptance by establishing their own righteousness. By thinking God would be impressed with their goodness and overlook their sin, they assumed God to be on their level. They were "ignorant of God’s righteousness" - of His perfect standard, and His total justice. (Deut 32:3,4; I Tim 6:15,16) But God elected those few who depended solely on His mercy (grace) and gave them His 100% righteousness, (Rom 3:21-24) "...and the rest were blinded" ..........

 

(Vs 8.) Isaiah 6:9,10 is used here, and also in Mat 13:14,15; John 12:37-41 and Acts 28:25-27. Why and how would God blind Israel? God’s word always has an effect on people. It hardens those who don’t believe it, like Pharaoh in Ex 7:3. This hardening, or blindness, starts with a choice. For example, once you make a decision, you are more likely to decide the same way next time. Likewise, once Israel had Christ crucified, they didn’t want to hear and see the truth or they would have to face their guilt. See in Eph 4:17-19 how willful blindness is the cause for Gentiles being ignorant and alienated from God too.

 

(Vs 9 & 10.) Read Psalms 69:19-24. Verse 21 is a prophecy about Christ’s crucifixion that was fulfilled in Mat 27:34,48 and John 19:29. In verse 22, which is quoted here in Romans, "their table" refers to Israel’s position of special blessing. (Mark 7:26-28; Ps 23:5) The only religion ever given by God, was given exclusively to Israel in the law of Moses. (Deut 4:7,8 & 26:15-19) But instead of showing them their sin and need of a Savior, the law became a "trap" to Israel. They became proud and self righteous, trusting in their own ability to keep it.(Is 65:5) This and the blinding in verse 23 were judgments from God for their rejection of Christ. In verse 23, "their loins continually shake"(translated as "bow down their back alway"in Romans), means that Israel is not safe or secure among other nations. Verse 24 is the next thing to happen in prophecy. But God has temporarily interrupted prophecy with Paul’s mystery message (Eph 3:1-6; Rom 16:25) and so has delayed the "indignation" and "wrathful anger" of this verse.

 

 

* When sharing the gospel of grace with people, let’s be very sure not to imply that a person has to do anything but trust what Christ has already done. Don’t say "Invite Jesus into your heart" or "Ask God to forgive you" or "Confess and turn from your sin" or say a sinner’s prayer. Doing these will not save a person. Neither will "Believe in Jesus" if they do not know what to believe about Him. We need to tell people that Jesus died to pay for our sins, and rose again. When we trust that, we are saved from paying for our own sins!