Matthew Henry

For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.”

“So the fathers generally apply it. Some understand it of the evangelical law and covenant, which Christ has introduced and established in the world: he has in that finished the work, put an end to the types and ceremonies of the Old Testament.”

It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

“It is so far from being an impeachment of the justice and righteousness of God that so many perish and are destroyed, that it is a wonder of divine power and mercy that all are not destroyed, that there are any saved; for even those…”

What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

“In this paragraph the apostle explains the true meaning and intention of the promise. When we mistake the word, and misunderstand the promise, no marvel if we are ready to quarrel with God about the accomplishment; and therefore the sense of this must first be…”

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

“Their zeal was not according to knowledge. It is true God gave them that law for which they were so zealous; but they might have known that, by the appearance of the promised Messiah, an end was put to it.”

Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

“The nature of their unbelief. They have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, that is, they have not yielded to gospel-terms, nor accepted the tender of justification by faith in Christ, which is made in the gospel.”

For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”

“The law which was given upon Mount Sinai, though it was not a pure covenant of works (for who then could be saved under that dispensation?)”

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

“No, salvation is not put at so vast a distance from us. [2.] But it is very plain and easy: The word is nigh thee.”

For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

“It is not believing (not to be reckoned so) if it be not with the heart. This is unto righteousness. There is the righteousness of justification and the righteousness of sanctification.”

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

“This extent, this undifferencing extent, of the promise both to Jews and Gentiles he thinks should not be surprising, for it was foretold by the prophet, Joel ii. Calling upon the name of the Lord is here put for all practical religion.”

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?

“The beginning, progress, and strength of faith, are by hearing. The word of God is therefore called the word of faith: it begets and nourishes faith. God gives faith, but it is by the word as the instrument.”

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?

“(1.) They cannot call on him in whom they have not believed. Except they believe that he is God, they will not call upon him by prayer; to what purpose should they?”

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

“The like passage we have, Nah. i. 15 , which, if it point at the glad tidings of the deliverance of Israel out of Babylon in the type, yet looks further to the gospel, the good news of our salvation by Jesus Christ. Observe, (1.)”

But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

“To this remote island of Britain, one of the utmost corners of the world, not only the sound, but the words, of the gospel came within a few years after Christ's ascension.”

I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation…

“The Gentiles are here called no people, and a foolish nation, that is, not the professing people of God.”

And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”

“The prescribed method is, Seek and find; this is a rule for us, not a rule for God, who is often found of those that do not seek.”

But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

“It is a wonder of mercy in God that his goodness is not overcome by man's badness; and it is a wonder of wickedness in man that his badness is not overcome by God's goodness.”

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

“He will by no means endure such a suggestions. God had made a distinction between some of them and others. There was a chosen remnant of believing Jews, that obtained righteousness and life by faith in Jesus Christ,”

And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

“Those God will own for his faithful witnesses that are bold in bearing their testimony to the present truth, 2 Pet. i. This is thank-worthy, not to bow to Baal when every body bows. Sober singularity is commonly the badge of true sincerity. [3.]”

In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works.

“If then there was a remnant left under the Old Testament, when the displays of grace were less clear and the pourings out of the Spirit less plentiful, much more now under the gospel, when the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, appears more illustrious.--…”

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

“They could neither see the light, nor feel the touch, of gospel grace. Blindness and hardness are expressive of the same senselessness and stupidity of spirit.”

But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

“(2.) It is called the receiving of them. The conversion of a soul is the receiving of that soul, so the conversion of a nation.”

in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

“In this emulation there needs no suspicion, undermining or countermining; for the church has room enough, and the new covenant grace and comfort enough, for us all. The blessings are not lessened by the multitudes of the sharers.-- And might save some of them.”

If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

“Some by the first-fruits understand those of the Jews that were already converted to the faith of Christ and received into the church, who were as the first-fruits dedicated to God, as earnests of a more plentiful and sanctified harvest.”

Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,

“The church of God is an olive-tree, flourishing and fruitful as an olive ( Ps. lii. 6 ), the fruit useful for the honour both of God and man, Judg. ix.”

That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

“Consider, (1.) "How they were broken off. It was not undeservedly, by an act of absolute sovereignty and prerogative, but because of unbelief.”