Video Notes: 

• What do you do when you want to accomplish something? You figure out what you think needs to be done to reach the goal and then you come up with a plan to do those things. If it doesn’t work, then you do a post-mortem to figure out what went wrong.
• In light of many Jewish people rejecting the Gospel, Romans does a post-mortem.
  • Earlier, Romans made it clear that God’s Word doesn’t fail.
  • Now, it asks, “Have they not heard?” They have heard the Gospel.
  • Then, it asks, “Did Israel not understand?” –Yes and no. Yes, they had the knowledge and most even understood it cognitively, but they didn’t understand it in the full sense of the word, in the sense that causes a response. 
    • Deuteronomy 32:21 – They would be jealous seeing what God was doing among the Gentiles and turn to God in repentance.
    • Isaiah 65:1-2 – The statement is to Israel. They didn’t seek God or ask for Him. This is after they were made God’s chosen nation. So, this is indicating an active rebellion against God. So, the Gentiles have received righteousness though they didn’t pursue it, becoming like Israel was meant to be and Israel is no longer seeking or asking for God, becoming like the Gentiles.
  • Finally, did God not want to save them? No. He did. In fact, He has been incredibly patient towards them, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
  • So, it’s not God’s Word that failed, it’s not that Israel didn’t hear, and it’s not that God didn’t/doesn’t want to save them. It’s that they have not listened responsively and believed. They have become like the Gentiles who do not seek God. Yet, God still holds out His hand and even tries to provoke them to jealously in order to save them.
• As an interesting side-note, notice the 3 Scriptural quotes used, Psalm, Deuteronomy, and Isaiah. This would have been significant to the Jews. This section quotes from the Psalms, Moses, and the Prophets…which signifies the entire Old Testament. All of the Jewish Scripture is testifying.