Romans 11:28,29 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

As concerning the gospel That is, in reference to the gospel; they are enemies for your sakes They reject it with the greater hatred, because you embrace it, or rather, (for they generally rejected the gospel before the Gentiles were called,) they reject the gospel, and thereby show that they are enemies to it, to God, and to themselves, which God permits for your sakes, and which turns to your advantage: (see on Romans 11:11; Romans 11:19; Romans 11:30:) but as touching the election, that part of them who believe, and therefore are chosen of God to be his people along with the believing Gentiles; they are beloved for the fathers' sakes God's gracious regard to the memory of their pious ancestors, engages him peculiarly to love and favour them. Or, the election here spoken of may be that national election, whereby the Jews were made the church and people of God. See on chap, Romans 9:11. In respect of that election, the Jews, though unbelieving, and enemies in respect of the gospel, as is said in the former clause, are still beloved with a love of compassion and goodwill, for the special love God bore to Abraham and the rest of the patriarchs, from whom they are descended: and, in consequence of the promises made to their fathers, they shall, as a people, in some future period, become the people of God, by believing the gospel. It is justly observed by Whitby, that there is a two-fold election of the Jews spoken of in this chapter; one whereby they were made the people of God, through their natural descent from the fathers, and which Moses has described, Deuteronomy 7:6-8. The other, whereby such of them as believed on Christ, were made the people of God under the gospel dispensation. This election is mentioned Romans 11:7. For the gifts and calling of God, &c. “The blessings which God freely bestowed on Abraham and his seed, and his calling, or making them his people, God will never repent of; but will restore to his natural seed the honour of being his people, after the Redeemer hath turned away their ungodliness of unbelief, Ezekiel 16:60-62.” Macknight.