14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” 21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”
Commentary
Vs. 14-15 Following up on his exhortation and Scriptural quotation that "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom 10:13 The Apostle Paul now reiterates that preaching the Gospel is paramount for us who believe, as he says: "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" vs. 14 First and foremost then is that everyone, everywhere hear what God has done for them through the Lord Jesus Christ so that they might believe in Him, and thus be saved by Him, when they call upon Him. Yet without a preacher first declaring the Lord Jesus Christ's mortal life, crucifixion death, resurrection from the dead, and ascension back to heaven. How can anyone call upon Him, and thus be saved by Him, unless they are first told about Him? As the Apostle says how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach unless they are sent? And so it is that we who believe in Jesus have not only been saved from our sins and the wrath to come by His crusifixion death and resurrection from the dead and our faith in Him. But we have also been sent by Him to go out into the world to preach the Gospel of peace to one and to all. For the being sent here is in no way (or anywhere else in the Gospel) a restricted call to just a "select" few. Nor is the preaching of the Gospel something that only takes place within the confines of a church buildings walls. For Jesus didn't just preach in synagogues, or the Temple courtyard. Jesus taught and preached the Kingdom of heaven wherever He went, and to whomever He met. From the pinnacles of power in major cities like Capernaum and Jerusalem, to a small fishing vessel anchored a few meters off the shoreline to the eager and inquisitive listeners who gathered on the shore to hear Him, too the grassy hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and the many remote villages and places that He and His disciples visited, too even far off and distant places and lands like Tyre and Sidon. Wherever Jesus went there He preached the Gospel to one and to all. Yet far to many believers and even congregations are now shunning their royal duty and God given call by the Lord by not actively participating in His glorious work wherever He may be working, and through whatever mediums He chooses to use to reach people with the Gospel through. For that is the church's first and foremost mandate, and that is our mandate as believers in, and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Make Christ known to one and to all to the exclusion of no-one. And thus make disciples of one and all who believe in Him (Matt 28:18-20). For Christ crucified and risen from the dead for the remission of our sins with new and everlasting by faith in Him transcends every nation, language, culture and person in every generation, because it reaches to the core of our greatest human need, and that is our being reconciled to God. Everything then that church does, or even we do as individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should have that as our prime focus, ultimate desire, and life-long goal, to make Christ known during our lives sojourn down here. I simply cannot stress this enough for both individual believers and the collective Body of Christ, whether this is a local church, Bible study group, worship team, or whatever activities or ministries you participate in, (or whatever else you do inside or outside of the church) make it your purpose and goal in life to make the Lord Jesus Christ known that people might believe and thus receive everlasting life by faith in Him. Just as the Scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Vs. 16 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
Here the Apostle Paul reveals Israel's ongoing obstinacy towards the will of God for them, that is to receive His Salvation for them by faith in His Son (John 6:29). Now it's not that Israel was not foretold about Christ's coming and His bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him (see Romans 9:23-26). For just as the Old Testament Scriptures are loaded with many references to Jesus' Person, Purpose and Life (Deuteronomy 18:18; Judges 13:5; Psalm 2:7-9; 40:6-8; 45:6-7; 110:4; 118:22-23; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-2; 6-7; 11:1-2; 16:5; 42:1-4; 48:16; 49:1-6; 61:1-2; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13). So they also foretell His Crucifixion death (Isaiah 52:13-53-13; Psalm 22:1, 18) and His Resurrection from the dead, even His Ascension back to God the Father (Psalm 68:18; 110:1-2) etc. Therefore Israel has no excuse for not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ when He was so clearly foretold to them, and then so clearly revealed and manifested amongst them. Instead in their own hearts and minds they turned back to Moses and Law and thus sought and are still seeking righteousness with God by that, instead of having the righteousness which only comes from God by faith in Jesus' Person. For though some in Israel did indeed believe, many more did not. Which is why the Apostle Paul is quoting from Isaiah 53:1 in verse sixteen, for even in his own ministering of the Gospel to them he often found much antagonism and hostile towards our Lord and Savior and King. Though the passage is in no way limited to them, since unbelieving Gentiles are just as guilty in this as well, in not believing the Gospel's message to them, and thus in not obeying it's call to repent and believe as well. Yet the Gospel is being preached everywhere, in every generation, offering God's eternal salvation to one and to all who will repent and believe (Acts 20:21).
Vs. 17-18 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”
Therefore in response to their hardness of heart, in not hearing, and thus obeying the Gospel. The Apostle Paul now says in verse seventeen that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". For it is the Word of God that alone reaches to the depths of every human heart, mind, and soul (Heb. 4:12). Yet one can harden themselves to it, can shut up their ears from hearing it, and thus not believe it. And so it is with Israel to this present day, they wouldn't here the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Prophet when He was sent to them (Deut. 18:18-19), and so they are to this Day still alienated from God, as is everyone else who will not hear Him. Now in response to his saying that faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God. The Apostle Paul anticipating a possible objection to this, that maybe Israel was not given adequate opportunity to hear Him, and thus believe in the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Paul now rhetorically asks in verse 18, "have they not heard". Meaning has it not been declared to them, what God did for them, through His Son Jesus? To which their is but one response, Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Therefore in quoting from Psalm 19:4, the Apostle Paul is making it abundantly clear that God's revelation of His Son and Person is in no way a hidden thing. For just as God gives direct testimony to us all of Himself through all of His creation, so He has in these last Days given direct Revelation and Testimony to us all about His Son. Therefore neither the Jews nor the Gentiles have any excuse for not "hearing", and thus believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 19-2119 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” 21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”
The Apostle Paul now turns his reasoning towards another possible objection for justifying Israel's ongoing disobedience, that is that Israel though they had the Gospel preached to them they did not know that God was going to offer salvation to the Gentiles by faith as well. Which again he thoroughly rebukes by quoting the Scriptures, specifically citing Moses to whom they all look, yet who himself by the Spirit of God says to them all, “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” (quotation Deut. 32:21; also see Acts 28:28). Thus the very people the Jews held in contempt for their ignorance of the One true God, have now by the Will of God become the people to which God has given salvation too.
Yet the Apostle Paul does not stop there, for Isaiah the prophet is also very bold in declaring this when he says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” (vs. 20, quoting from Isaiah 65:1). And so it is the Gentiles who did not seek God by their own works of the law (as the Israelites have always done and continue to do) have found God, and have received His salvation for them by believing in His Son's Person. And so it is that God also says through Isaiah the prophet to Israel, “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.” (vs. 21, quoting from Isaiah 65:2). For they are and continue to be contrary to God by being disobedient to the very Gospel which was first sent to them, but was never to be exclusively for them. Yet God has not shut them out of His salvation plans, but as stated early because of their obstinacy and ongoing disobedience which He foresaw, He has now given salvation to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy, to turn them back to Himself through the very people they once scorned. For the believing Gentiles have now surpassed them in righteousness and thus now have a justified standing with God by faith In Christ. Therefore Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not attained to righteousness because they did not seek it faith but rather by works of the law (Rom 9:33). And so it is even to this day that God's chosen people remain alienated from God because they have not believed, and thus do not obey the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom God's Righteousness comes to one and to all who believe in Him (2 Cor 5:21). The only question remains then have you received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith into your heart life or are you still trying to earn God's salvation for yourself like the Israelites are still doing. Looking to Moses and the Law for a justified standing with God, yet neither Moses nor the Law can save them, only Christ crucified can and their faith in Him (John 3:15-16). Therefore believe the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ today! (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20).
Word Studies
Vs. 21 disobedient, ἀπειθέω, vb.; Str 544; GK 578; TDNT 6.10; TDNTA 818; LN 31.107; 36.23 (15x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"does not believe" John 3:36
"unbelieving" Acts 14:3
"who were not persuaded" Acts 17:3
"did not believe" Acts 19:9
"do not obey" Rom 2:9
"disobedient" Rom 10:21
"disobedient" Rom 11:30
"disobedient" Rom 11:31
"do not believe" Rom 15:31
"did not obey" Heb 3:18
"did not believe" Heb. 11:31
"who are disobedient" 1 Peter 2:7
"being disobedient" 1 Peter 2:8
"do not obey" 1 Peter 3:1
"were disobedient" 1 Peter 3:20
"do not obey" 1 Peter 4:17
Even at a glance one can see the connection between unbelief and disobedience. Just as the distinction between unbelief and disobedience is often indistinguishable with this words usage in the N.T. and is often only clarified by the translators choice for one or other as each context demands.
Vs. 21 contrary, ἀντιλέγω, vb., Str 473; GK 515; LN. 33.455 (11x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"which will be spoken against" Luke 2:34
"deny" Luke 20:27
"to contradict" Luke 21:15
"speaks against" John 19:12
"say nothing against it" Acts 4:14
"contradicting" Acts 13:45
"spoke against" Acts 28:19
"spoken against" Acts 28:22
"contrary" Rom 10:21
"contradict" Titus 1:9
"answering back" Titus 2:9
Note: This word means to strongly speak against, to oppose.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 65:1–2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 481–482). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 467–468). New York: United Bible Societies.
Vs. 16 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
Here the Apostle Paul reveals Israel's ongoing obstinacy towards the will of God for them, that is to receive His Salvation for them by faith in His Son (John 6:29). Now it's not that Israel was not foretold about Christ's coming and His bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him (see Romans 9:23-26). For just as the Old Testament Scriptures are loaded with many references to Jesus' Person, Purpose and Life (Deuteronomy 18:18; Judges 13:5; Psalm 2:7-9; 40:6-8; 45:6-7; 110:4; 118:22-23; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-2; 6-7; 11:1-2; 16:5; 42:1-4; 48:16; 49:1-6; 61:1-2; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13). So they also foretell His Crucifixion death (Isaiah 52:13-53-13; Psalm 22:1, 18) and His Resurrection from the dead, even His Ascension back to God the Father (Psalm 68:18; 110:1-2) etc. Therefore Israel has no excuse for not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ when He was so clearly foretold to them, and then so clearly revealed and manifested amongst them. Instead in their own hearts and minds they turned back to Moses and Law and thus sought and are still seeking righteousness with God by that, instead of having the righteousness which only comes from God by faith in Jesus' Person. For though some in Israel did indeed believe, many more did not. Which is why the Apostle Paul is quoting from Isaiah 53:1 in verse sixteen, for even in his own ministering of the Gospel to them he often found much antagonism and hostile towards our Lord and Savior and King. Though the passage is in no way limited to them, since unbelieving Gentiles are just as guilty in this as well, in not believing the Gospel's message to them, and thus in not obeying it's call to repent and believe as well. Yet the Gospel is being preached everywhere, in every generation, offering God's eternal salvation to one and to all who will repent and believe (Acts 20:21).
Vs. 17-18 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”
Therefore in response to their hardness of heart, in not hearing, and thus obeying the Gospel. The Apostle Paul now says in verse seventeen that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". For it is the Word of God that alone reaches to the depths of every human heart, mind, and soul (Heb. 4:12). Yet one can harden themselves to it, can shut up their ears from hearing it, and thus not believe it. And so it is with Israel to this present day, they wouldn't here the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Prophet when He was sent to them (Deut. 18:18-19), and so they are to this Day still alienated from God, as is everyone else who will not hear Him. Now in response to his saying that faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God. The Apostle Paul anticipating a possible objection to this, that maybe Israel was not given adequate opportunity to hear Him, and thus believe in the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Paul now rhetorically asks in verse 18, "have they not heard". Meaning has it not been declared to them, what God did for them, through His Son Jesus? To which their is but one response, Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Therefore in quoting from Psalm 19:4, the Apostle Paul is making it abundantly clear that God's revelation of His Son and Person is in no way a hidden thing. For just as God gives direct testimony to us all of Himself through all of His creation, so He has in these last Days given direct Revelation and Testimony to us all about His Son. Therefore neither the Jews nor the Gentiles have any excuse for not "hearing", and thus believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 19-2119 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” 21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”
The Apostle Paul now turns his reasoning towards another possible objection for justifying Israel's ongoing disobedience, that is that Israel though they had the Gospel preached to them they did not know that God was going to offer salvation to the Gentiles by faith as well. Which again he thoroughly rebukes by quoting the Scriptures, specifically citing Moses to whom they all look, yet who himself by the Spirit of God says to them all, “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” (quotation Deut. 32:21; also see Acts 28:28). Thus the very people the Jews held in contempt for their ignorance of the One true God, have now by the Will of God become the people to which God has given salvation too.
Yet the Apostle Paul does not stop there, for Isaiah the prophet is also very bold in declaring this when he says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” (vs. 20, quoting from Isaiah 65:1). And so it is the Gentiles who did not seek God by their own works of the law (as the Israelites have always done and continue to do) have found God, and have received His salvation for them by believing in His Son's Person. And so it is that God also says through Isaiah the prophet to Israel, “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.” (vs. 21, quoting from Isaiah 65:2). For they are and continue to be contrary to God by being disobedient to the very Gospel which was first sent to them, but was never to be exclusively for them. Yet God has not shut them out of His salvation plans, but as stated early because of their obstinacy and ongoing disobedience which He foresaw, He has now given salvation to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy, to turn them back to Himself through the very people they once scorned. For the believing Gentiles have now surpassed them in righteousness and thus now have a justified standing with God by faith In Christ. Therefore Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not attained to righteousness because they did not seek it faith but rather by works of the law (Rom 9:33). And so it is even to this day that God's chosen people remain alienated from God because they have not believed, and thus do not obey the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom God's Righteousness comes to one and to all who believe in Him (2 Cor 5:21). The only question remains then have you received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith into your heart life or are you still trying to earn God's salvation for yourself like the Israelites are still doing. Looking to Moses and the Law for a justified standing with God, yet neither Moses nor the Law can save them, only Christ crucified can and their faith in Him (John 3:15-16). Therefore believe the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ today! (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20).
Word Studies
Vs. 21 disobedient, ἀπειθέω, vb.; Str 544; GK 578; TDNT 6.10; TDNTA 818; LN 31.107; 36.23 (15x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"does not believe" John 3:36
"unbelieving" Acts 14:3
"who were not persuaded" Acts 17:3
"did not believe" Acts 19:9
"do not obey" Rom 2:9
"disobedient" Rom 10:21
"disobedient" Rom 11:30
"disobedient" Rom 11:31
"do not believe" Rom 15:31
"did not obey" Heb 3:18
"did not believe" Heb. 11:31
"who are disobedient" 1 Peter 2:7
"being disobedient" 1 Peter 2:8
"do not obey" 1 Peter 3:1
"were disobedient" 1 Peter 3:20
"do not obey" 1 Peter 4:17
Even at a glance one can see the connection between unbelief and disobedience. Just as the distinction between unbelief and disobedience is often indistinguishable with this words usage in the N.T. and is often only clarified by the translators choice for one or other as each context demands.
Vs. 21 contrary, ἀντιλέγω, vb., Str 473; GK 515; LN. 33.455 (11x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"which will be spoken against" Luke 2:34
"deny" Luke 20:27
"to contradict" Luke 21:15
"speaks against" John 19:12
"say nothing against it" Acts 4:14
"contradicting" Acts 13:45
"spoke against" Acts 28:19
"spoken against" Acts 28:22
"contrary" Rom 10:21
"contradict" Titus 1:9
"answering back" Titus 2:9
Note: This word means to strongly speak against, to oppose.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 65:1–2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 481–482). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 467–468). New York: United Bible Societies.
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