Key Verse: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." - Romans 11:25 KJV
Paul now tells the Roman believers that there is something they need to understand. He calls it a “mystery.” In Scripture, a mystery is not necessarily something impossible to understand. It is something that God has revealed that was previously hidden or not fully understood. Paul does not want Gentile believers to become proud or assume they have replaced Israel in God's purposes. Instead, he wants them to understand God's larger plan.
Blindness in Part
Paul says: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel…” Romans 11:25 Israel's rejection of Christ was real, but it was not the end of God's purposes.
Paul has already made clear that there is a believing remnant. And now he explains that Israel's present condition has a place within God's unfolding plan.
The Gentiles have been brought into the people of God through faith in Christ, but they must not become arrogant about it. Paul has already warned: “Boast not against the branches.” Romans 11:18
God's plan is much bigger than what any individual generation can see.
“And So All Israel Shall Be Saved”
Paul continues: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:26 This verse has been understood in different ways by Christians throughout history, particularly concerning what Paul means by “all Israel.”
But the central point of Paul's passage is clear: God has not forgotten Israel. He has not abandoned His promises. Paul continues by pointing to God's covenant: “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:27
The emphasis remains on God's mercy and God's faithfulness.
The Gospel and God's Promises
Paul then makes an important distinction: “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.” Romans 11:28
Israel's present response to the gospel is described in one way, while God's historical relationship with the patriarchs is described in another. Paul is holding these truths together rather than allowing one to erase the other.
Then comes one of the most comforting statements in this entire chapter: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29
God does not casually abandon His purposes. His faithfulness does not depend upon changing human circumstances. What God has promised, He remains faithful to accomplish.
Mercy
Paul then turns the whole discussion toward mercy. “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:” Romans 11:30
And then: “Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” Romans 11:31
Paul is showing that God's purpose is not ultimately about one group boasting over another. It is about mercy. Gentiles have received mercy. Israel needs mercy. And ultimately, every sinner who comes to God comes by mercy.
Paul summarizes it beautifully: “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” Romans 11:32
- The ground is level.
- Nobody approaches God saying, “I deserved this.”
- We approach Him saying, “I needed mercy.”
Oh, the Depth!
At this point Paul's teaching turns into worship.
He has been explaining God's sovereignty, God's mercy, Israel, the Gentiles, salvation, unbelief, and God's purposes.
Then suddenly he stops explaining and begins praising. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Romans 11:33
Paul recognizes that God's wisdom is deeper than human understanding. He continues: “how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33
There are things about God we understand because He has revealed them. There are also things we cannot fully comprehend. That should not drive us away from God. It should cause us to worship Him.
Who Hath Known the Mind of the Lord?
Paul asks: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” Romans 11:34
The answer is obvious.
- Nobody has been God's counselor.
- God doesn't need us to explain His plans to Him.
- He doesn't need our advice.
- He doesn't need our wisdom.
- He is the Creator.
- We are the creation.
And that brings us back to something Paul has already emphasized earlier in Romans: God is God, and we are not. That truth should humble us. But it should also comfort us.
If God's understanding were limited to ours, we would have reason to worry. But His wisdom is infinitely greater than ours.
Everything Belongs to Him
Paul asks one more question: “Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” Romans 11:35
Who gave God something first? Nobody. Everything we have ultimately comes from Him. We cannot put God in our debt.
We cannot say, “God, You owe me because of what I have done.” Instead, we owe everything to Him. And Paul reaches the great conclusion: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36
What a verse.
- Of Him.
- Through Him.
- To Him.
Everything begins with God. Everything is sustained through God. Everything ultimately points back to God. And therefore the glory belongs to God.
Romans 11 teaches us something that is easy to forget: We don't have to understand everything in order to trust God.
- There will always be questions we cannot answer completely.
- There will be things about God's purposes that are beyond our understanding.
- There will be times when we look at circumstances and wonder why God has allowed something to happen.
- But our inability to understand God's ways does not mean that His ways are wrong.
Paul's response to the mystery of God's purposes was not despair. It was worship. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Sometimes the most faithful response we can give is simply: “Lord, I don't understand everything You are doing, but I trust You.”
Life Application
When you encounter something in Scripture that you don't fully understand, don't be afraid to acknowledge it.
- Study it.
- Pray about it.
- Search the Scriptures.
- But don't assume that what you cannot understand cannot be true.
God's wisdom is greater than ours. And when life itself becomes difficult to understand, remember Romans 11:36. Everything is “of him, and through him, and to him.”
- Your life is not outside God's knowledge.
- Your circumstances are not beyond His wisdom.
- And your salvation rests upon His mercy.
Let that truth produce humility rather than pride, trust rather than fear, and worship rather than anxiety.
Prayer
Father, Your wisdom is far greater than mine. There are many things I do not understand, but I know that You are faithful, wise, and good.
Help me trust You when Your ways are beyond my understanding. Keep me humble before Your Word and grateful for Your mercy.
Thank You for saving me through Jesus Christ. Help me never take Your grace for granted and never think that I have anything to boast about except in You.
May my life bring glory to You. Of You, through You, and to You are all things. To You be glory forever.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
