Romans 9:30-33 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

What shall we say then What is to be concluded from all that has been said, but this, that the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness Who a while ago had no knowledge of, no care or thought about it; have attained to righteousness Or justification; even the righteousness which is of faith Which is by faith in Christ and in his gospel, Philippians 3:9. This is the first conclusion we may draw from the preceding observations. The second is, that Israel, (the Jews,) which followed after the law of righteousness The law which, duly used, would have led them to faith, and thereby to righteousness; hath not attained to the law of righteousness To that righteousness, or justification, which is one great end of the law. Or, as Estius and Beza think, the law of righteousness is put for the righteousness of the law; as Hebrews 7:16, the law of a carnal commandment, signifies the carnal commandment of the law. According to this interpretation, the apostle's meaning is, Israel, who pursued the righteousness of the law, have not attained it. Wherefore? Is it because God eternally decreed they should not? No: there is nothing like this to be met with in the apostle's reasoning; but, agreeably to his argument, he gives us this grand reason for it: because they sought it not by faith, whereby alone it could be attained; but, as it were In effect, if not professedly; by the works of the law The works required by it, which they were not able perfectly to perform. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone Which lay in their way. This is an allusion to one who, running in a race, stumbles on a stone in his way, and, falling, loses the race. As it is written Foretold by their own prophet; Behold, I lay in Sion I exhibit in my church what, though in truth the only sure foundation of religion and happiness, yet will be, in fact, a stumbling-stone, and a rock of offence An occasion of ruin to many through their obstinate unbelief. And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Or, as the original expression may be more literally translated, No one who believeth on him shall be ashamed. The reader will observe two passages of Isaiah are here joined in one quotation, because they relate to the same subject; namely, Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 8:14. See note on 1 Peter 2:8. Accordingly, those in Israel who expected the Messiah to be a great temporal prince, stumbled at Jesus on account of the poverty, meanness, and state of suffering in which he appeared among them. Hence they fell short of righteousness and salvation, and lost all their privileges as the people of God.