“1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. 2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.”
Paul begins chapter 10 with a short summary of his thoughts from chapter 9. He starts by reminding them of his determined love for Israel and his longing to see them saved. No one can accuse Paul of not caring for the Jewish people. Remember Paul’s attitude from chapter 9:
“For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.” — Romans 9:3
If it were possible, Paul would suffer eternal damnation, being completely separated from God if it would allow for his Jewish brothers and sisters to be saved. Obviously this cannot work. Paul’s death and damnation would not ever be able to cover his own sins, let alone the sins of anyone else! That is precisely why Jesus had to die, the sacrificial lamb had to be spotless, sinless, and perfect. Paul, no doubt, knows this, yet what an incredibly strong passion Paul is displaying for the unbelieving Jews!
We learned in Chapter 9 that God has used the disobedience of the Israelites as means by which to provide a Messiah to all His elect, regardless of national identity. In Chapter 10, Paul will return his focus to the Israelites, and the plans God has for them. He will answer questions like Why do the Jews need to be saved? Saved from what? Aren’t the Jews God’s chosen people? How will God reconcile His people? Will all Israel be saved?
As today’s verses note, at the time of Paul’s writing, the Jews were very zealous for God, but not in the correct way. Rather than receiving God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus, the Jewish people were determined to earn their own righteousness through the works of the law. No one knows this way of life better than Paul. He, after all, used to be a zealous Pharisee! As Paul has been telling us throughout the whole of Romans thus far, it is not possible for anyone to be saved this way. Works save no one! Not a single person remains unmarred by sin. Only a perfect, sinless sacrifice can save us from our transgressions. Paul will address this further for us in the coming verses of Chapters 10 & 11. To remind yourself of the foundational principles of justification by faith, and not by works, see Romans Chapters 3 & 4.