The Last Argument to Prove the Conversion and General Calling of the Jews
Romans 11:30-32
For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:…


The argument is taken from the like dealing of God with the Gentiles. The impiety of the Gentiles was no impediment to their mercy, neither shall the infidelity of the Jews to theirs.

I. THE GENTILES WERE INFIDELS (Ephesians 2:12), BUT BY THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS THEY ARE RECEIVED TO MERCY.

1. Forget not what thou wert, for we have all fun the race of the prodigal son. It is God's grace if it be otherwise with thee now. Be thankful. How if God had taken thee away in thy sins? Let this bind thee to thy good behaviour for ever (1 Timothy 1:15; cf. Titus 3:8).

2. Faith is a sweet mercy, so is the Word of God, the means of that faith. Alas for them which, having the means of faith, yet contemn the same!

3. Sin breeds sorrow, and many times sorrow kills the sin which bred it, as a worm breeding in timber consumes it. So the sin of the Jews works to the good of the Gentiles by the goodness of God. calls the sin of Adam happy, because it was the occasion of salvation; so in some sort may we say of the unbelief of the Jews.

4. God forbid that we should lightly esteem the grace God offers us, it coming unto us at so dear a rate as is the casting off of His people.

5. When we were infidels, God showed us mercy; much more will He be merciful to us now we believe.

II. THE JEWS ARE NOW IN AN ESTATE OF UNBELIEF, BUT THEY SHALL BE RECEIVED TO MERCY (Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 24:6, 7).

1. There is yet mercy for the Jews, by the example of the like mercy to the Gentiles. But it is now sixteen hundred years ago since they were cast off; is it likely that after so long time they should be called? Yes; for the Gentiles lay longer under their infidelities, yet at last received grace.

2. Faith is not in the power of man, nor can any means effect it without God's blessing. One would think that this long affliction of the Jews might make them cry peccavi, beside other means God hath afforded them. In trouble, then, pray it may be sanctified to thy profit. Pray also for a blessing on the Word, else it will be unprofitable, though the preacher were a son of thunder.

3. Carry thyself meekly toward a Jew, and toward unbelievers among ourselves, considering thyself, who wert in the same condemnation. Judge not thy neighbour for damned; He that converted thee can in His good time convert him also. Play the physician to thy neighbour's soul; show him of the mercy thou hast received, that he also may be stirred up to seek to Him who is merciful. God gave Paul consolation in distress, that he might comfort others; so if He give thee knowledge, faith, etc., use them in like manner.

4. Who, then, is the better for thy gifts? The Jew compasseth sea and land to make a proselyte. The Jesuits wind themselves like serpents into every place to make a papist. Drunkards and other ungodly persons seek to draw others to their practices.

5. Let the Jew follow the faith of the Gentile, so do thou the example of good Christians among whom thou livest. It is a great furtherance to godliness to have an example to the rule. It is a help to the scholar to have a copy to write by, but a greater furtherance to his profiting to see his master make the letters.

(Elnathan Parr, B.D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

WEB: For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,




The Gospel Given to Us as a Deposit for the Jews
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