Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

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Did not the Jews know that the Gentiles were to be called in? They might have known it from
Moses and Isaiah. Isaiah speaks plainly of the grace and favour of God, as going before in the
receiving of the Gentiles. Was not this our own case? Did not God begin in love, and make himself
known to us when we did not ask after him? The patience of God towards provoking sinners is
wonderful. The time of God's patience is called a day, light as day, and fit for work and business;
but limited as a day, and there is a night at the end of it. God's patience makes man's disobedience
worse, and renders that the more sinful. We may wonder at the mercy of God, that his goodness is
not overcome by man's badness; we may wonder at the wickedness of man, that his badness is not
overcome by God's goodness. And it is a matter of joy to think that God has sent the message of
grace to so many millions, by the wide spread of his gospel.


Chapter 11


Chapter Outline
The rejection of the Jews is not universal. (1–10)
God overruled their unbelief for making the (11–21)
Gentiles partakers of gospel privileges.
The Gentiles cautioned against pride and (22–32)
unbelief, The Jews shall be called as a nation,
and brought into God's visible covenant
again.
A solemn adoring of the wisdom, goodness, (33–36)
and justice of God.

Verses 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, Ps 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.

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