Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Romans
Book: Romans
Chapter: 9
Overview:
The
Apostle's concern that his countrymen were strangers to
the
Gospel.
(1-5) The promises are made good to the spiritual
seed of
Abraham.
(6-13) Answers to objections against
God's
sovereign conduct, in exercising
Mercy and
Justice.
(14-24) This
Sovereignty is in
God's dealing both with Jews and
Gentiles.
(25-29) The falling short of the Jews is owing to their seeking
Justification, not
By Faith, but
By the
Works of the
Law.
(30-33)
1-5 Being about to discuss the rejection of the Jews and the
Calling of the
Gentiles, and to show that the whole agrees with
the sovereign electing
Love of
God, the
Apostle expresses
strongly his
Affection for his people. He solemnly appeals to
Christ; and his
Conscience, enlightened and directed
By the Holy
Spirit, bore
Witness to his sincerity. He would submit to be
treated as "accursed," to be disgraced, crucified; and even for
a time be in the deepest horror and distress; if he could rescue
his nation from the
Destruction about to come upon them for
their obstinate unbelief. To be insensible to the eternal
condition of our fellow-creatures, is contrary both to the
Love
required
By the
Law, and the
Mercy of the
Gospel. They had long
been professed worshippers of
Jehovah. The
Law, and the national
Covenant which was grounded thereon, belonged to them. The
Temple Worship was typical of
Salvation By the
Messiah, and the
means of
Communion with
God. All the promises concerning
Christ
and his
Salvation were given to them. He is not only over all,
as
Mediator, but he is
God blessed for ever.
6-13 The rejection of the Jews
By the
Gospel Dispensation, did
not break
God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and
threatenings shall be fulfilled.
Grace does not run in the
Blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward
Church
privileges. Not only some of
Abraham's seed were
Chosen, and
others not, but
God therein wrought according to the counsel of
his own will.
God foresaw both
Esau and
Jacob as born in
Sin,
By
nature children of wrath even as others. If left to themselves
they would have continued in
Sin through
Life; but for
Wise and
holy reasons, not made known to us, he purposed to change
Jacob's
Heart, and to leave
Esau to his perverseness. This
instance of
Esau and
Jacob throws
Light upon the Divine conduct
to the fallen race of
Man. The whole
Scripture shows the
difference between the professed
Christian and the real
believer. Outward privileges are bestowed
On many who are not
the children of
God. There is, however, full encouragement to
diligent use of the
Means of Grace which
God has appointed.
14-24 Whatever
God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy
people of
God differ from others,
God's
Grace alone makes them
differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing
Grace, he
Acts as a benefactor, whose
Grace is his own. None have deserved
it;
So that those who are saved, must thank
God only; and those
who perish, must blame themselves only, Hos 13:9.
God is bound
No further than he has been pleased to bind himself
By his own
Covenant and promise, which is his revealed will. And this is,
that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to
Christ; but the drawing of souls in order to that coming, is an
anticipating, distinguishing favour to whom he will. Why does he
yet find fault? This is not an objection to be made
By the
Creature against his Creator,
By Man against
God. The
Truth, as
it is in
Jesus, abases
Man as nothing, as less than nothing, and
advances
God as sovereign
Lord of all. Who art thou that art
So
foolish,
So feeble,
So unable to
Judge the Divine counsels? It
becomes us to submit to him, not to reply against him. Would not
men allow the infinite
God the same sovereign right to manage
the affairs of the
Creation, as the potter exercises in
disposing of his
Clay, when of the same lump he makes one vessel
to a more honourable, and one to a meaner use?
God could do
No
wrong, however it might appear to men.
God will make it appear
that he hates
Sin. Also, he formed vessels filled with
Mercy.
Sanctification is the preparation of the soul for
Glory. This is
God's work. Sinners fit themselves for
Hell, but it is
God who
prepares saints for
Heaven; and all whom
God designs for
Heaven
hereafter, he fits for
Heaven now. Would we know who these
vessels of
Mercy are? Those whom
God has called; and these not
of the Jews only, but of the
Gentiles. Surely there can be
No
unrighteousness in any of these Divine dispensations. Nor in
God's exercising long-suffering, patience, and forbearance
towards sinners under increasing guilt, before he brings utter
Destruction upon them. The fault is in the hardened sinner
himself. As to all who
Love and fear
God, however such truths
appear
Beyond their reason to
Fathom, yet they should keep
silence before him. It is the
Lord alone who made us to differ;
we should
Adore his pardoning
Mercy and new-creating
Grace, and
give diligence to make our
Calling and election sure.
25-29 The rejecting of the Jews, and the taking in the
Gentiles, were foretold in the Old
Testament. It tends very much
to the clearing of a
Truth, to observe how the
Scripture is
fulfilled in it. It is a wonder of Divine power and
Mercy that
there are any saved: for even those left to be a seed, if
God
had dealt with them according to their sins, had perished with
the
Rest. This great
Truth this
Scripture teaches us. Even among
the vast number of professing Christians it is to be feared that
only a remnant will be saved.
30-33 The
Gentiles knew not their guilt and misery, therefore
were not careful to procure a remedy. Yet they attained to
Righteousness By Faith. Not
By becoming proselytes to the Jewish
religion, and submitting to the ceremonial
Law; but
By embracing
Christ, and believing in him, and submitting to the
Gospel. The
Jews talked much of
Justification and
Holiness, and seemed very
ambitious to be the favourites of
God. They sought, but not in
the right way, not in the humbling way, not in the appointed
way. Not
By Faith, not
By embracing
Christ, depending upon
Christ, and submitting to the
Gospel. They expected
Justification By observing the precepts and ceremonies of the
Law of
Moses. The unbelieving Jews had a fair offer of
Righteousness,
Life, and
Salvation, made them upon
Gospel terms,
which they did not like, and would not accept. Have we sought to
know how we may be justified before
God, seeking that blessing
in the way here pointed out,
By Faith in
Christ, as the
Lord our
Righteousness? Then we shall not be ashamed in that awful
Day,
when all refuges of lies shall be swept away, and the Divine
wrath shall overflow every hiding-place but that which
God hath
prepared in his own Son.