Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Romans 9:4 - 9:4
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
In this and the following verse, he rehearseth the privileges and advantages the Jews had from God, above all other nations of the earth; and this he doth to show, that he had good reason to make such a wish, as in the foregoing verse; as also, that what he should declare concerning the Jews, and their ejection, did not proceed from any disrespect or disesteem of them.
Israelites; i.e. the offspring of that holy patriarch Israel: this was the Jews’ first title of honour, that they descended from him, who by God himself was surnamed Israel, or a prince that had power with God, and prevailed, Gen_32:28.
The adoption; adoption is not here to be understood as before, in Rom_8:15, or as in Eph_1:5, and elsewhere. But thereby we must understand the peculiar privilege of the seed of Jacob; that they, of all the nations of the earth, were pitched upon to be nearly related to God, to be his children (as they are called) and his firstborn: see Exo_4:22 Deu_14:1 Jer_31:9,20 Mt 15:26.
The glory; the ark and the temple; so called, because in them God did manifest his glorious presence, 1Sa_4:21,22 Psa 26:8 78:61.
The covenants; some understand by covenants, the tables of the law: see Heb_9:4. Others rather understand the covenant made with Abraham, Gen_15:8 17:2,7; and with the Jewish nation, Exo_24:7,8 Exo 34:27, &c. Circumcision also may be intended, for that is called God’s covenant, Gen_17:10.
The giving of the law; the judicial, ceremonial, but especially the moral law. This is spoken of as a great privilege, Deu_4:8,32. It may refer both to the law itself, and to the circumstances, also, with which the law was given.
The service of God; the true manner of worshipping God, which was a great privilege. Other nations knew there was a God, and that he must be worshipped, but they knew not how; and so they ran into superstition and idolatry.
The promises; of this life, and that to come; particularly of the Messiah, and of the benefits and blessings by him. These are found in Moses and the prophets, and were entailed upon the Jews and their children, Act_2:39 Eph_2:12, till God at last cut off the entail.