Romans 9:32

Verse 32. Wherefore? Why. The apostle proceeds to state the reason why so uniform and remarkable a result happened. They sought it not by faith, etc. They depended on their own righteousness, and not on the mercy of God to be obtained by faith. By the works of the law. By complying with all the demands of the law, so that they might merit salvation. Their attempted obedience included their prayers, fastings, sacrifices, etc., as well as compliance with the demands of the moral law. It may be asked here, perhaps, how the Jews could know any better than this? How should they know anything about justification by faith. To this I answer, (1.) that the doctrine was stated in the Old Testament.