Romans 10:16-21

Obstinance as an Obstacle to the Gospel

Jesus tells us of the parable of the farmer who scatters seed in Mark 4:26–29“And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” Likewise, in Matthew 13:3–9“And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.””

As Paul wraps up the theme of proclaiming the Gospel, he begins to tie in the fact of Israel’s rejection as he had brought forth in chapter 9. Like the farmer, the preacher proclaims the Good News, not knowing where the seeds will fall. Some of the seeds of the Gospel will take root, yet others will not. Israel was the firstborn of God. To them, as Paul tells us in Romans 9:4 “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.” Yet he also reminds us that in Romans 9:6 “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,”

Rejection, obstinance, and heard heartedness acts as an obstacle to the Gospel. Paul transitions from the positive aspects of the Good News in Romans 10:9-15, but comes to a drastic shift in verse 16. The Gospel is proclaimed to all without exception but not all accept the message.

the seed of reception

the seed of rejection

[1] the seed of reception

Romans 10:16–17“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

[v. 16] Even though God has sent his messengers to proclaim a simple Gospel, those who have labored by scaling the heights of God’s Word, who have labored by trekking across perilous terrain, those whose message is utterly rejected, there are still some who despise the good news. They reject both the message and the messenger. This is precisely what we have seen in the lives of the apostles during Acts. As the Gospel went forth from Judea, Jerusalem, and Samaria, Peter, John, and Philip are bombarded with the same rejection Jesus faced.

It is an echo of what Christ Himself guaranteed. The very burden the messengers would have to bare. John 15:18–20““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

The subject Paul has in mind is the same as when he began this new section in Romans, namely, the people of Israel. He tells us quite clearly, that despite this message, despite the witness of Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah, despite the clear testimony of Scripture, they have not all obeyed the gospel. The focus now begins its shift toward Israel again. What is astounding is that Paul is not saying this gospel is only rejected by a few individuals; rather, the majority of the Jews have not submitted to the Gospel message (cf. Schreiner, 556), they are still being hardened.

The word Paul uses which is translated as “obeyed” shares its root form with the verb “to hear.” In this verse, it means to listen attentively, or to take heed, or to conform to a command, which leads to the submission to the authority of the Gospel. It is the same word Paul uses in 2 Thessalonians 1:8“in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” Judgment is inflicted upon those who do not obey, or better translated, do not take heed of Christ’s Gospel.

The obedience Paul has in mind is with respect to a diligent apprehension enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, Paul even notes that this has not been the case. Some have not obeyed this very message that was proclaimed in Romans 10:9–10“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Hence, Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah a third time (9:27, 29; 10:16, 20). For Isaiah says stressed the applicability of Scripture to the present situation. Paul, again, appeals to Scripture to demonstrate the points he has established thus far. Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us. Here, Paul is quoting from Isaiah 53:1, which is near the beginning of the Suffering Servant passage. Where previously, in verse 14, he quotes Isaiah 52:7, here he reminds the audience that the Jews have in fact stumbled over the stumbling stone at the folly of the Cross of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,”

The word used for hearing can also be translated as message, account, or report. When it is used, it is related to the reception of a message in relation to the Gospel. Paul draws this out specifically in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” The phrase “which you heard from us” is specified as “the word of God.” This word of God is inseparable from faith. The same is used in Hebrews 4:2 “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.”

Merely hearing the word is not sufficient grounds to be saved, faith must accompany it, and this is related to Paul’s previous point in Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” A messenger must come with a message.

It is similar to the way children may behave to their parents when given instruction, or a boss to a co-worker. A parent tells their child to do something. The child hears what they are told but do not act upon it. A husband hears to take out the trash but does not act upon it. A worker hears that they must deliver a report at the end of the day but they do not act upon it. The demonstration of disobedience is not found in the hearing but in the doing. Likewise, Israel as God’s children acted the same way. They heard the message yet rejected it. In the same way, many in the church hear the Gospel message week-by-week and reject its truths, continue in their sins, and disobey the Word of God.

[v. 17]

Paul provides the very summary of what he has set forth in Romans 10:14-16. The necessary element of faith comes from hearing. Faith is a firm confident conviction empowered by the Holy Spirit where we receive and rest upon what Jesus Christ has done on behalf of us as he is offered to us in the Gospels. Once again Paul employs the hearing aspect which is related to an apprehension of the Gospel. The word translated from in the ESV is more accurately translated in the NKJV as “by” or “by means of”. So that faith comes by means of hearing. Similarly, the hearing aspect comes mediated through the object, that is, the word of Christ.

Once again, Paul is relating this to the Gospel itself. It is the same word that Peter mentions in his epistle. 1 Peter 1:25 “but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” This word is Christ’s word insofar as it literally comes from him and its content is about him. It may seem redundant, however, it draws upon the conclusion that apart from Christ, you are not receiving the Gospel.

This is one of the major issues in the evangelical world in general. We have preachers in the pulpit who are not committed to preaching the undiluted Gospel. Rather, they preach ear-tickling sermons so that they can measure success by how many seats are filled in the pew each Sunday. If you preach a watered-down, substituted, weak message, then God’s elect will not hear it. Instead of hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd calling to them, they will hear the voice of a charlatan instead (cf. Fesko, 300).

The Bible does not measure success based upon how large a congregation is, or how many members are in its church. The Bible measures success on the effectiveness of preaching Christ and Him crucified. When Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-2, he did not encourage Timothy, or any pastor for the matter, to be a political commentator, to be an entertainer, or to provide a Ted talk on secular ways to improve your life. No, Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:1–2“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” Paul told Timothy to preach the word in exposition. Divide the word and apply it, God will do the rest.

Jesus Himself testified of this very truth. Jesus tells the people that His ordained messengers will come with the Gospel, His own Words. Jesus prepares the people that messengers will indeed bring his message, John 3:34 “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” John 17:8 “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”

After Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath and confronted the scribes and Pharisees he concludes, John 5:47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?””

The words of Christ as manifest in the Scriptures are live-giving, John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

And for Jesus, faith and obedience are intertwined, John 12:47–48“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

So also does Paul draw upon the inseparable relationship between faith and obedience. The very same concept he begins his letter with in Romans 1:5 “the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.” It is another emphasis, or highlight, of the fact that Scripture’s concept of faith always involves a level of commitment and submission to the lordship of Christ. It is not a faith focused solely upon verbal assent. Instead, it involved a wholehearted commitment unto God.

Likewise, our obedience should match the faith that we have. Our obedience does not earn or merit our faith; rather, our obedience naturally flows from a genuine faith. Ask yourself, “Am I demonstrating fruits in keeping with repentance?” This is not a call to perfection by any means. Rather, we can look at the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lays out in Galatians 5:22–23“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” And identify whether we have made Christ our Lord and Saviour.

[2] the seed of rejection

Romans 10:18–21“But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.””

Verses 18-21 acts as a preface or introduction to what Paul will begin to argue in Romans 11. It is built upon the premises of God’s sovereign election in Romans 9, of the acknowledgement of Gentile inclusion, and of Israel’s foreordained rejection.

[v. 18] As is common in Paul’s writings, he begins to employ rhetorical devices to give pause to what he is about to present. The first question asked is “have they not heard?” Obviously, the people of Israel have indeed heard the Law of God. Even some of literally heard the words of Christ. But, they were closed off from his message. Yet again, this issue was part of what Jesus dealt with.

Matthew 13:13–15“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”

Paul continues that “indeed they have” and once again quotes from Scripture. Paul quotes directly from the Greek translation of the text, which comes from Psalm 19:4 “Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Now, why would Paul be referring to special revelation, that is, the content of God’s saving plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, in a passage that is dealing with general revelation, as Psalm 19:1 states “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork?” Paul is referring to the Gospel message which is being proclaimed to all without distinction. It is a parallel between the universality of general revelation, that all of mankind can see that God exists and are without excuse, and with the universality of the gospel message, going to the ends of the earth.

The point being made is that man is without excuse. God has made it externally and even internally evident of His existence. Externally, God has created all things. The complexities of creation point to a Creator. Internally, God has given man a conscience. Though it is seared by sin, it is still retained. Natural man knows it is wrong to kill, steal, or to commit adultery. How do they know this? Because God has made it known.

Likewise, God makes himself known through His Son. Colossians 1:14–16“in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Hear the words of Christ and believe the Gospel. Do not reject such a gift of salvation, as the nation of Israel did.

[v. 19] Paul moves on and employs his second rhetorical device, asking “did Israel not understand?” It seems that Paul is using these questions in light of Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” There is an outward aspect and an inward aspect. For Israel, they did indeed “hear” God’s message, related to the outward aspect. And they seemed to understand on the most basic sense, but it did not take root into their hearts.

This was the very same indictment proclaimed by Isaiah, Isaiah 6:9 “And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’” And also, John writes of this very same thing in John 12:40 as it relates to Jesus and the rejection of his Gospel, ““He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.””

Right at the end of Acts, in Acts 28:26–27 Paul goes on to proclaim the same truth, ““ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’” Israel did not understand as they did not take the Scriptures to heart as they ought. What then is the result?

Paul quotes from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Like excommunication, the goal and intent is to bring the person back into the fold. To provoke the people to jealousy is the hope that they would return. It is a foreshadow of what Paul will bring up later in Romans 11:14 “in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.”

And so Paul, in interpreting this passage from Deuteronomy, is applying the it to Israel in hopes that they would be provoked to jealousy and anger because another nation - the Gentiles, who had not enjoyed God’s covenant favor and privileges - would not become the recipients of that favor. Proclaimed nearly 1500 years before Christ, now, strangers, foreigners, and aliens would become partakers of covenant favour and blessing. This, therefore, is what Israel knew. They were forewarned of this very fact, that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a people who would bring forth its fruits (cf. Murray, 2:62).

What a great blessing this is? We were those very people whom God has poured forth His love through His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ. The true King of Israel sought after the sheep who have left the fold. He went after us, the ninety-nine, he went after and pursued wayward sinners and brought them under the heavenly bliss of his Father’s love. Yet, this is not a call to boast in ourselves as if we were something special and the nation of Israel was not. It was all received and rested upon faith, a gift. It was not earned. And we cannot think that it was earned or our right lest we fall into the same trap as the people of Israel did.

[v. 20] Paul now shifts his focus to Isaiah in quoting Isaiah 65:1 in verse 20 and Isaiah 65:2 in verse 21. To set the context, in Isa. 65 the words are a judgment addressed to apostate Israel, which is fitting, since Paul considers the majority of Israel to be apostate. In the original context of Isaiah, both 65:1 and 65:2 were addressed to Israel, but here Paul has split up the prophecy by applying 65:1 to the gentiles (perhaps under the influence of ἔθνει [ethnei, nation] in v. 1) and 65:2 to Israel (Schreiner, 560).

The bold proclamation of Isaiah is as the Lord proclaims, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” It is interesting how Paul reaches back to this same concept of seeking the Lord as he did in Romans 9:30 “What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;”

And once more, it fits into the general scheme of mankind in general. No one is seeking after God. Yet God grants faith and shows Himself. The word translated I have shown is an intensification of the meaning “to be made manifest.” God has fully revealed himself to a people undeserving. This full manifestation is found in Jesus Christ.

[v. 21] Finally, Paul appeals to the second verse of Isaiah 65 with a reference to Israel. The unworthy Gentiles is in contrast with the disobedient nation of Israel, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” In the Old Testament hand means power, which demonstrates that it has been the Lord’s power to preserve the nation of Israel. The Lord who led the people of Israel with an outstretched arm has had to endure the disobedient nature of the people. The Lord who freed the people from Egypt’s bondage, who led them across the Red Sea, who provided manna and water in the desert, who defeated their enemies before they went into the land, this Lord who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, is treated with contempt.

Two words are used for the people. Disobedient is where we get the English word for “apathy.” It refers to an absence of belief in other passages. In Romans, it is frequently used with reference to the Jews. As they had seen the great works of God they were apathetic, uncaring, and refused to obey in response.

Not only that but they are a contrary people. Literally, it means to “speak against.” In Greek it has the prefix “anti” attached to the word for “to speak.” It is to go against what God has revealed to them in His Word. The people are opposed to God, they are in spiritual opposition to the manner in which he has revealed himself.

The conclusion is that the entire Old Testament speaks to the disobedience of Israel. The three major division are the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Here, Paul quotes from Moses (the Law), Isaiah (the Prophets), and the Psalms (the Writings). Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Paul is indicting Israel for their disobedience in hopes that they would come to faith.

Once again, we ourselves were once in the category of disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. We were obstinate people. We rejected God’s Word in favor of idols and sin. Yet through Jesus Christ we have received a great salvation. And because of that, we ought to bear fruits in keeping with repentance. We ought to fulfill the Law by loving the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.

The question may arise, “How is Israel responsible if it was prophesied that they would disobey and reject the Messiah?” As one commentator writes, “That divine predestination works through disobedience does not make it any less disobedience. The unbelief of an Israel which has heard and understood is proof that God’s saving power works [or operates] through faith” (Dunn, 627). And it really goes back to the arguments found in Romans 9. The word of God has not failed (v.6). Israel’s rejection does not nullify or cancel out the promises of God.

That being the case, God as the Potter has the right to have mercy on whomever he wills and to have compassion on whomever he wills (9:14-18). Indeed, the Potter does have the right over the clay (9:21-23), yet man is still accountable for his actions and sins. This relationship that exists in Scripture, this paradox, does not nullify the effectiveness of preaching or evangelism. God ordains the ends (salvation) as well as the means (preaching). Proclaiming the words of Christ knowing God uses it as the means for people to hear the Good Shepherd is assurance that His message will stand the test of time. That God sovereign over all things emboldens our witness. The message will not fail because the Messenger, Jesus Christ, did not fail.

For the past 100 years or so, people have been seeking revival. They want their pews filled and people to be saved. But they want to do this apart from the diligent labor and hard work. They want rock bands to draw the people in the church. They want clever talks and theatrics to bring people into the church. They seek revival from themselves and marketing tactics from secular institutions.

If we want to be a people to seek revival, we need to be a people that seeks the Word of God preached. As the late R. C. Sproul writes, “If every church member in America [or any country for that matter] would ask that the Word of God be preached in an expository manner every Sunday, it would blow the lid off this country, because that is where the power is. It is not in our programs, buildings, or parking lots. It is in the Word” (Sproul, 329). Be a people of the Word. It is not merely a word, but it is Christ’s word. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. It convicts and edifies. It comforts the afflicted. It brings peace to the chaos of the world. It is the Word of our God.