Romans 10:3

"For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."

Key Reflection

Paul acknowledges the Jews' intense devotion to God but notes that their zeal is misplaced, lacking proper understanding or knowledge of God's will as revealed in Christ. This spiritual blindness leads them to seek eternal life through their own efforts rather than accepting the Gospel message.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. For they being ignorant. The ignorance of the Jews was voluntary, and therefore criminal. The apostle does not affirm that they could not have known what the plan of God was; for he says, (Ro 10:18-21) that they had full opportunity of knowing. An attentive study of their own Scriptures would have led them to the true knowledge of the Messiah and his righteousness. See Joh 5:39. Comp. Isa 53, etc. Yet the fact that they were ignorant, though not an excuse, is introduced here, doubtless, as a mild and mitigating circumstance that should take off the severity of what he might appear to them to be saying, 1 Ti 1:13.

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