“HAVE MERCY ON THEM ALL”

ROMANS 11:28-32

28As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

11:28-32 In this passage Paul shows how the Jews and the Gentiles benefit each other. Whenever God shows mercy to one group, the other shares the blessing. In God’s original plan, the Jews would be the source of God’s blessing to the Gentiles (see Genesis 12:3). When the Jews neglected this mission, God blessed the Gentiles anyway through the Jewish Messiah. He still maintained his love for the Jews because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (“on account of the patriarchs”). The privileges and invitation of God given to Israel will never be withdrawn. But someday all faithful Jews will share in God’s mercy. God’s plans will not be thwarted: He will “have mercy on them all.” For a beautiful picture of Jews and Gentiles experiencing rich blessings, see Isaiah 60. Tyndale. Life Application Study Bible

ON THE WAY HOME WALK WITH JESUS knowing we are included in those that he will “have mercy on them all”