Israel's Unbelief
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Rom 9:32
Wherefore? Because they... Question 62. Next, Rom. 10:6. Why has Israel not attained to the righteousness she sought so long? Because she sought it not by faith, but by works of the law, and because she stumbled over the way her Messiah came (Rom. 9:32-33).
sought it not... The Jews were ignorant of God’s way of righteousness by faith in Christ (Rom. 3:25-31; Gal. 2:16; 3:10-28). They went about to establish their own righteousness by works. They attained not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands alone on the principle of grace through faith (Rom. 4:1-25; Gen. 15:6). They set all their efforts upon the law of works and imagined they were justified by outward observance of a few rituals. When the gospel came along offering free salvation to Gentiles as well as Jews on the basis of grace and faith without works, they were offended and rejected it.
We see in all of this that the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Faith is what pleases God. By faith the elders received a good report. Abraham’s faith was counted unto him as righteousness. Our faith in Jesus is what saves us. We cannot be good enough to be saved and neither could the Jews who had the law. We all need a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ the Righteous.
To seek to attain righteousness by observing the Law requires that it be kept perfectly (cf. Jas. 2:10). Why did Israel not attain it? Because they pursued it not by (ek, “out from”) faith but as if it were by (ek, “out from”) works. The Israelites did not admit their inability to keep the Law perfectly and turn by faith to God for forgiveness. Instead a few of them kept trying to keep the Law by their own efforts.
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