Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryRomans 11

God Has Not Rejected His People In this section, Paul explains that God has not rejected the Jewish people, even though many of them have not believed in Jesus. Paul himself is proof that God still saves Jews, because he is an Israelite who believes in Christ. Paul shows that, throughout history, God has always kept a faithful group of believers, even when most people turned away. He encourages both Jews and Gentiles to see God's mercy in saving people from all backgrounds. v. 1: Paul asks, “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1 ). He is saying that God has not completely rejected the Jewish people. Paul himself is Jewish and a believer in Jesus, so this shows that God’s promises to Israel still stand. God always keeps a faithful remnant among His people.

v. 2: “God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew” (Romans 11:2 ). God knew His people from the beginning. Paul reminds them of the story of Elijah, who thought he was the only believer left, but God told him He had kept seven thousand faithful people in Israel. Paul uses this story to show that God always has a group of true believers, even if they are few.

v. 3: Paul quotes Elijah’s words, “Lord

v. 4: “But what does the divine response say to him? ‘I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal’” (Romans 11:4; 1 Kings 19:18 ). God answered Elijah by telling him there were still many faithful people. In the same way, there are still Jewish people today who believe in Jesus.

v. 5: “Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5 ). Paul says that God has always kept a small group of true believers, chosen by His grace, not because of their own efforts or goodness.

v. 6: “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Romans 11:6 ). Salvation comes from God’s kindness, not from earning it by good deeds. If salvation were based on our works, it would not be grace. Grace means it is a free gift, not something we can earn.

The Divine SovereigntyIn this section, Paul finishes his discussion about why the Jews were set aside and the Gentiles accepted into God's family. He ends with praise and awe for the wisdom and sovereignty of God. Paul wants us to realize that we cannot fully understand God's ways, but we can trust Him. This passage encourages us to admire God's plans, even when they are mysterious or surprising. The focus is on how deep and unsearchable God's wisdom is in salvation.v. 33: Paul exclaims, O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (Romans 11:33 ). He is amazed at how much wisdom and knowledge God has, especially in the way He saves people. God’s plans are much deeper than we can understand. Even angels want to look into these mysteries (1 Peter 1:12 ). Human wisdom is shallow, but God’s is like an ocean (Psalm 36:6 ). God’s judgments and ways cannot be fully searched out—they are past finding out. We often cannot see the reasons for God’s actions or fully understand His purposes. As it says, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me (Psalm 139:6 ). God’s paths are mysterious, and we should accept them with trust and worship, not with doubt. Some things God does are secret and not for us to know (Deuteronomy 29:29 ). This is especially true when thinking about how God chose to include the Gentiles and set aside the Jews for a time. God’s ways do not always follow human expectations, and sometimes we just have to say, O the depth! (Job 26:14 ).

v. 34: Paul asks, For who has known the mind of the Lord

v. 35: Paul continues, Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? . No one can say that God owes them anything. Everything we have comes from God (1 Chronicles 29:14 ). Whenever we serve God, we are only giving back what is already His. This truth is a reminder to the Jews that God did not owe them their special status, and to the Gentiles that their acceptance is a gift, not a right. God gives and takes away as He pleases, and He is always just.

v. 36: Paul explains, For from him and through him and to him are all things (Romans 11:36 ). Everything in creation comes from God, is sustained by God, and exists for God’s glory (Revelation 4:11 ). This includes our salvation. Just as rivers return to the sea where they came from (Ecclesiastes 1:7 ), so everything returns to God. Paul finishes with praise: To him be glory forever. Amen. We should respond to God’s mysterious plans not with arguments, but with worship and trust. The more we understand, the more we should praise God for His greatness (Psalm 145:10 ).