111 I say then , God has not rejected His people , has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite , a descendant of Abraham , of the tribe of Benjamin . 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew . Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah , how he pleads with God against Israel ? 3 "Lord , THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS , THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS , AND I ALONE AM LEFT , AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE ." 4 But what is the divine response to him? " I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL ." 5 In the same way then , there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice . 6 But if it is by grace , it is no longer on the basis of works , otherwise grace is no longer grace . 7 What then ? What Israel is seeking , it has not obtained , but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened ; 8 just as it is written , " GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR , EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY ." 9 And David says , " LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP , AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 " LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER e ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 11:1-10
Commentary on Romans 11:1-10
(Read Romans 11:1-10)
There was a chosen remnant of believing Jews, who had righteousness and life by faith in Jesus Christ. These were kept according to the election of grace. If then this election was of grace, it could not be of works, either performed or foreseen. Every truly good disposition in a fallen creature must be the effect, therefore it cannot be the cause, of the grace of God bestowed on him. Salvation from the first to the last must be either of grace or of debt. These things are so directly contrary to each other that they cannot be blended together. God glorifies his grace by changing the hearts and tempers of the rebellious. How then should they wonder and praise him! The Jewish nation were as in a deep sleep, without knowledge of their danger, or concern about it; having no sense of their need of the Saviour, or of their being upon the borders of eternal ruin. David, having by the Spirit foretold the sufferings of Christ from his own people, the Jews, foretells the dreadful judgments of God upon them for it, Psalm 69. This teaches us how to understand other prayers of David against his enemies; they are prophecies of the judgments of God, not expressions of his own anger. Divine curses will work long; and we have our eyes darkened, if we are bowed down in worldly-mindedness.