Where observe, 1. The mighty concern which the apostle had for the eternal salvation of his countrymen the Jews, who sought his destruction; their salvation lay very near his heart, and he was afraid they should miss it by taking the wrong way for obtaining it, by building all their hopes of salvati... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "I can bear them witness that many, very many, of the Jews, have. zealous desire in their way to please God, and do what is acceptable in his sight; but though it be. warm, it is but. blind zeal, and not according to right knowledge." Here observe, 1. The apostle is desir... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, the Jews being ignorant of God's way of justification by faith in Christ discovered in the gospel, and relying upon and trusting to their own works, their obedience to the ceremonial and moral law, to justify and save them, they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God; tha... [ Continue Reading ]
There was. threefold law of God, which Christ may be said to be the end of; namely, judicial, ceremonial, and moral. 1. The judicial law was that which God by Moses delivered to the Jews, containing directions for administration of their civil government. Now Christ was the end of the law, as he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Righteousness by faith can never be obtained by the works of the law, because Moses describeth the righteousness of the law thus, That the man that doeth these things, shall live by them; that is,. prosperous and happy life in the land of Canaan, say some; and eternal li... [ Continue Reading ]
In which words the apostle seems to set forth the great anxiety and trouble of mind which is found with an awakened sinner; he is at. loss to find out the way how he shall stand justified in the sight of God. The law propounds to him life, but it is upon an impossible condition; but the gospel clear... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The two great and principal things which the gospel requires, in order to our justification and salvation. The first is, CONFESSION OF CHRIST WITH OUR MOUTH; that is, in all times of danger, particularly in. time of persecution, to own Christ Jesus our Lord, and to declare that we wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, How the apostle proclaims Jesus Christ. common and universal Saviour of all mankind who believe in him: without any discrimination or difference between Jew and Gentile. WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM, SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED, WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON HIS NAME, SHALL BE SAVED. Where by beli... [ Continue Reading ]
The scope of the apostle in these words is to prove, that these words is to prove, that there was. necessity of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as well as to the Jews, in order to their believing on Christ; and his way of arguing is very forcible, demonstrative, and convincing. Thus, "God has... [ Continue Reading ]
Here an objection is tacitly implied and answered: some might say, "If the gospel be thus excellent, and the feet of them that preach it is so beautiful, whence was it that the Jews, to whom it was first preached, did not receive and yield obedience to it?" The apostle answers, that this infidelity... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "It is very evident, and these testimonies show, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the preaching of the word of God." The grace of faith is wrought by the Spirit in the act of hearing: and the matter heard by which this faith is wrought, is the word of God preac... [ Continue Reading ]
It was no less than. miracle that the gospel, in the space of. few years, should be preached to all nations, and planted in the remotest parts of the world; and yet thus it was; which makes St. Paul here apply that to the preaching of the apostles, which David applies to the preaching of the heavens... [ Continue Reading ]
Did not Israel know, that is, of the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, and of their own infidelity in rejecting it? This they might have known both from the testimony of Moses and Esaias. First, from Moses' testimony, who says, I WILL PROVOKE YOU (Jews refusing to believe) UNTO JEALOUSY BY T... [ Continue Reading ]