Thesis: The passage answers "yes, Israel has heard the Word of Christ since the very beginning".
- Has God given Israel a fair chance to believe? verse 14
- Yes, God gave Israel a fair chance, they have no excuse.
- Verse 16 quotes Isaiah 53 - the suffering servant of the Lord i.e. Jesus – asking "who has believed our report?" The implied answer is, very few.
- Verse 17 when Paul states "17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ", he is affirming Israel had the word of Christ preached to them, but they rejected it!
- It then moves to the Law of Moses as a witness of Jesus. Psalm 19, John 5:46
- Verse 20 quotes Isaiah 65:1 in the context of God's promise of a future Glory, not only to Israel, but to the whole world.
- Verse 21 quotes Isaiah 65:2 and this seals the argument.
- Now the story doesn't end there for Israel, see Romans 11:1-2
CONCLUSION:
- The Gentiles were God's excuse to provoke the Jews, and to call people unto salvation.
- Let us pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers to His harvest.
- Let us treasure Jesus, He is the subject matter and aim of true preaching. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ."
- Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Proverbs 23:23 |
