The Tragedy of the Jews

As Paul presses on in his calling to bring the gospel to all peoples, Jews and gentiles alike, the stubborn unbelief of the vast majority of the Jews causes him keen sorrow and grief. But his is more than a burden for a beloved people. He is tormented by the thought that the Jews, at least from the human perspective, should respond immediately with joy to the proclamation of the gospel, for they have been given numerous advantages (Rom. 3:1–2) over other peoples. Specifically, God has given them blessings and privileges that outline His redemptive plan.

Paul tells the Romans that the Jews received:

• The Adoption: This term, used in reference to the Jews only here in the entire New Testament, has to do with God’s choice of the nation of Israel as the earthly instrument for achieving His redemptive purposes. In other words, the Jews were selected to receive the subsequent benefits Paul mentions.
• The Glory: Probably a reference to the various visible symbols of the presence of God in Israel’s midst throughout the Old Testament.
• The Covenants: The formal “treaties” between God and the Jewish patriarchs and leaders, from Abraham to David, by which God bound Himself to His people and revealed much about His redemptive plan.
• The Law: The revelation of God’s holy standards.
• The Service of God: The regulations God gave to Israel for worshiping Him in the tabernacle and temple. Essentially, these are guidelines for the way a sinful man must approach a holy God.
• The Promises: Specifically, Old Testament promises of salvation.
• The Fathers: The devout founders of the Jewish nation, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who gave Israel a great legacy of faith.
• Christ: The Messiah was one of them (though the Jews would not have agreed with Paul that this was an advantage).

Dr. James M. Boice notes that each of these blessings points to the next, all of them leading “to the full realization of [the Jews’] spiritual inheritance when the Messiah should at last be revealed.” God was unfolding His plan of redemption in full view of the Jews. They should have understood the way of salvation and embraced Jesus en masse. But they were unable to do so in their sinful human natures.