Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Ver. 1. _My heart's desire_] So it should be ours. See my True Treasure, chap. vii. sect. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Ver. 1. _My heart's desire_] So it should be ours. See my True Treasure, chap. vii. sect. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Ver. 2. _They have a zeal of God_] So had those two Rabbis, David Rubenita and Shelomoh Molchu, that set upon the Emperor Charles v. to persuade him to Judaism, and were therefore put to a cruel death, A. D. 1530.... [ Continue Reading ]
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Ver. 3. _For they being ignorant_] The soul that is without knowledge is not good, and he that (without knowledge) hasteth with his feet... [ Continue Reading ]
For Christ _is_ the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Ver. 4. _For Christ is the end, &c._] _q.d._ Ay, and for Christ's sake, is the righteousness of God. But the Jews submit not to Christ, therefore not to the righteousness of God. Christ, saith Austin, is _Legis finis... [ Continue Reading ]
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Ver. 5. _Shall live by them_] This do and live; that is, saith Luther, _morere, _ to delay, die out of hand: for there is no man lives and sins not. We can as little cease to sin as... [ Continue Reading ]
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down _from above_ :) Ver. 6. _Say not in thine heart_] The law preacheth faith in Christ, as well as the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) Ver. 7. _Into the deep_] Those deeps of the earth, Psalms 71:20 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, _even_ in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Ver. 8. _The word is nigh thee_] Moses meant it of the law, but it more fitly agreeth to the gospel. The babe of Bethlehem is swathed up in the bands of both Testaments: he... [ Continue Reading ]
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Ver. 9. _That if thou shalt confess_] That is, if thou shalt call upon the name of the Lord, as it is expounded, Romans 10:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Ver. 10. _For with the heart, &c._] Plutarch tells us that of all plants in Egypt, that they call Persica is consecrated to their goddess Isis, and that for this reason, because the fruit of i... [ Continue Reading ]
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Ver. 11. _Shall not be ashamed_] Maketh not haste, saith the prophet. Shame and confusion follow haste and precipitancy: _Sed Deo confisi nunquam confusi._ But trust in God is never confused.... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Ver. 12. _Is rich unto all, &c._] He cannot therefore be poor that can pray; for he shall have out his prayer, either in money or money's worth.... [ Continue Reading ]
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ver. 13. _Shall be saved_] Though he miss that particular mercy he asked for, he is certainly sealed up to salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Ver. 14. _How shall they hear, &c._] The word read is of divine use and efficacy; but of preaching we may say as David did of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Ver. 15. _How beautiful are the feet_] How much more their faces! "Surely I have seen thy face as the face of God," said Jacob... [ Continue Reading ]
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? Ver. 16. _Who hath believed our report?_] Gr. ακοην, our hearing, passively taken. So Caesar and Cicero use _auditio_ for report and rumour. Some sit before a preacher as senseless as the seats they sit o... [ Continue Reading ]
So then faith _cometh_ by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Ver. 17. _By the word of God_] That is, by the word of God's command, sending out preachers gifted for the purpose, and saying to them, "Go preach," &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Ver. 18. _Yes verily; their sound, &c._] _Sonus tonus, _ οο φθογγος. David saith only, "their line," Psalms 19:2. That accurate and artificial frame of the heaven preacheth,... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by _them that are_ no people, _and_ by a foolish nation I will anger you. Ver. 19. _Did not Israel know_] _sc._ That the Gentiles were to be called? they were often told of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Ver. 20. _Is very bold_] So that for his boldness he was sawn asunder, saith Jerome.... [ Continue Reading ]
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. Ver. 21. _Stretched_] A metaphor from a mother.... [ Continue Reading ]