Romans 10:16-21 – The benefit of right hearing

In the earlier verses, Paul had already said that the message of the Gospel had gone forth and was heard by all. Here Paul imagined them asking: if it is possible for everyone to hear, receive and be saved by the Gospel, then why do some, especially the Jews, who have heard and not believed? In answer to that, he quickly quoted Isaiah 53:1. It tells us that the refusal to heed the word happen in the day of Paul just as it was in the day of the prophet Isaiah. This is not something new to Paul.

He explained it had to do with the way one hears. So in verse 17 he said, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Here the emphases are placed on both the message, which is the Word of God and the manner in which the listeners hear. We learn how to listen to God’s Word. It can be recognized as the Word coming from God. Then it must be heard with full attention and with a strong resolution to obey. This kind of hearing will enable one to recognize the voice of Christ in the message of God.

Paul then turned to answer the question, why did Israel remain in unbelief? In verse 18 Paul saw the possibility of the excuse that perhaps the Jews did not hear the message. He then quickly debunked that by quoting Psalm 19:4, implying that the Jews had also heard the Gospel and had no excuse. The message of God had gone forth for all to hear. And while the Gospel is universally preached and offered to all, it is not universally accepted, especially with Israel.

Then in verses 19-20, another excuse seems to be offered. It proposed that if Israel did hear, then maybe they did not understand the message. Quoting Moses and Isaiah, Paul dismissed this excuse as well. He rounded up his arguments and maintained that the problems with the Jews were their disobedience and stubbornness. Their unbelief was due neither to their ignorance nor their misunderstanding of the message. 

Israel did not heed God because they approached His Word with a wrong attitude. They were obstinate and stubborn. This is an example for us not to follow. We must approach God’s Word with a willingness to hear and a strong resolve to act and obey it. This kind of hearing will ensure that the Word of God will not return to Him void but accomplish the purpose to which it is sent forth. We must approach the Word of God with the right attitude and attentiveness!