I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, (2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. (3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; (5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Perhaps no passage in the word of God is more difficult to apprehend, than the one at the opening of this Chapter. Here is the Apostle, in his regenerate state, entering with such warmth and earnestness of soul, into the spiritual and eternal concerns of Israel after the flesh, that he professes a wish to be accursed from Christ for the accomplishment of their salvation, And, he appeals to Christ for the truth of it. Yea, God the Holy Ghost bears him witness he saith in his own conscience, that it is so. That Paul might feel, as he saith he did, great sorrow of heart in the view of his brethren after the flesh being shut out of Christ's kingdom, is very probable. Natural feelings are very strong feelings. But here Paul is speaking as under the most fervent gracious impressions. And yet both nature and grace seem to be in direct opposition to what Paul here wished. For it is contrary to the first law of nature, to wish a man's own damnation. And, it is contrary to all the finer feelings of grace, to contemplate, much less wish, being forever separated from Christ upon any consideration whatever. It is a most difficult passage to apprehend. We meet with an instance in the first view somewhat similar, when Moses, the man of God, prayed so fervently for Israel, that he begged his name might rather be blotted out of the book of God than Israel, Exodus 32:32. But the book here alluded to, most probably meant the book of temporal life, and not the eternal. Paul's is a much higher note: Accursed from Christ. Indeed none but one, even the God-Man Christ Jesus, could bear the curse, and be made a curse for his redeemed. It was his peculiar honor and glory, Galatians 3:13. I must leave the passage as I found it, for I am free to confess it is attended with too much difficulty of apprehension for me to explore. One improvement may be drawn from it; when we behold such an ardent zeal for the welfare of immortal souls in the Apostle, to take shame in the recollection, how cold and lifeless all of the present hour are, who minister in holy things, in the ministry of the word and ordinances. Oh! for a fervency of spirit, both in ministers and Churches! Lord the Holy Ghost! pour out of thy blessed influences, and cause a revival in this our day and generation!
Let it be observed, concerning those of whom the Apostle speaks, that the privileges they are here said to have enjoyed, were not spiritual. They were Israelites, because descended from Jacob by natural descent, which made them so far honorable in that alliance. But they were not of the spiritual seed, concerning whom it was said, in Isaac shall thy seed be called, Genesis 21:12. Neither is the adoption here spoken of, that adoption which is of grace, but nature. God separated this one family, with whom might be deposited the shadows and types of the covenant in Christ. But all these were designed no further, than to minister to that better covenant established upon better promises, Hebrews 8:6. Paul felt, however, a very high regard for Israel after the flesh, in that they were not only his brethren, as a nation, but also as the Lord had so distinguished them with such unspeakable blessings, in their peculiar national character, with his ordinances, and above all, in that high honor that Christ after the flesh should come, w ho is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen!