Romans 10:21 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: But concerning Israel he says, 'All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.'

NASB: But as for Israel, He says, 'I HAVE SPREAD OUT MY HANDS ALL DAY LONG TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE.'

CSB: But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.

NLT: But regarding Israel, God said, 'All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.'

KJV: But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

NKJV: But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10 concludes with this poignant verse. Paul's quotation of Isaiah 65:2 here follows his reference to Isaiah 65:1 in the previous verse. God describes Himself as patiently holding out His hands to welcome His people Israel once they turn around and come back to Him. God describes Israel as a disobedient and contrary people.

Their disobedience at this moment in history was not like the disobedience described in Isaiah 65. That disobedience included directly breaking God's commands in the law. The disobedience Paul describes now, though, is a refusal to obey the gospel of Jesus (Romans 10:16).

Faith in Christ is more than an opportunity to be declared righteous by God. It is His command. Israel said no. This, in fact, is the root cause of all unbelief: a deliberate choice to disobey, reject, or ignore what God has told us (Romans 1:18–20; John 5:39–40; John 7:17).

Still, as this verse says, God is waiting. Paul's prayer for Israel was that her people would turn, repent, and believe (Romans 10:1).

Romans 10:14–21 explains that, despite hearing the gospel and understanding it, Israel continues to disobey. Paul works through a series of questions, showing where and how Israel has failed to accept the truth given them by God. His point is clear: the people of Israel have been given more than enough knowledge, and so they ought to recognize their Messiah. Despite that stubbornness and failure, God waits, still holding out His hands to His people.

Paul's heart is broken for his people, Israel. He prays they will be saved through faith in Christ. Their enthusiasm for God is made useless by their attempt to be made righteous by their own law-keeping instead of by faith in Christ. What, then, is required to be saved? One must confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead. The same is true for both Jews and Gentiles. God waits patiently for Israel to turn and believe.

Romans 9 concluded with Paul's declaration that Israel has stumbled over the stumbling stone of Christ. Romans 10 describes Paul's heartfelt prayer that Israel would be saved, despite her commitment to saving herself through works. Why have the Israelites not confessed the Lordship of Jesus and believed in the resurrection? It's not for lack of hearing and understanding; they are disobeying the gospel. Paul will insist, though, in the following chapter, that God has not rejected Israel. He still holds out His hands to her, offering salvation through faith in Christ.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 4/27/2024 5:53:34 PM