The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 105

utter our impotence I But he stoop& to die for ue, and we receive forgiveness by faith• nnd, being in trustful and loving fellowship with hlm, we now can live by him. Tb~ "Law" of his llfe la established, not annulled, by faith.-T. F. L. Vere. 1, 2,-A ,acred trust. Qneetions break the even flow of a course of argumenta- tion, and, by diversifying the etream, quicken the sluggish interest of the spectatora. The catechetical method is characteristic of the Apostle Paul in hi.a most vehement moods. I. EXPLAIN THE BJGNIFI0ANCE OJ' TBE QUERY IN' THE TEXT. It mi<1ht seem strange for any to question the unexampled privileges enjoyed by the Jews~but the apostle has been laying the axe to the root of some barren trees of Jewish pretenirions. He ruthlessly exposed the pleas of those who tried to shelter their nou-cr,mpliance with God's statutes behind the fact that they belonged to an elect race, as if to be an Israelite were in: itself a guarantee of salvation. He showed that only the doers <of the Law are justified by the Law; that the ir:itial rite of circumcision could only profit if it were followed up by inward consecration and outward obedience. The apostle affirmed that even the heathen world had its: law of conduct, according to which it would be judged. Every man who worked evil would be visited with retribution-" wrath and anguish," on the Jew first, and also on the Greek. The rabbis would not be absolved on the ground of their status and functions; let them instruct themselves, and abstain from every violation of the Law. These were plain statements; there was no mincing of the matter, and to-many readers, accustomed with self-gratulation to pride themselves on their descent from Abraham, these remarks would prove highly offensive. And further they would be led to inquire, with complaining iDdignatioD, "Well, then, what bas been the itood to us of our Jewish religion? If our condition of national priority is- no~ to ensure the ultimate favour of God, where is our boasted advanta,.,cre over the Gentile, who may equally obtain the rewards of the jud,.<1IDent-day?" The objector asks not only what his ordinary profit bas been, but what has been the surplus, the =esg of privilege, above other nations. Observe how easily the hearer of the gospel may adopt the same line of questioning. Indeed, this is assigned by many e.s a reason for not preaching the gospel to the heathen, inasmuch as they shall be judged according to the degree of light they possess, and greater light may increase their condemnation. II. THE EKPHATI0 BEPLY, 'fhe Jew had reason for de.-out gratitude in e,ery respect, answers the apostle; and primarily, that to him it had been given to receive direct, unmistakable communications from Heaven. The Jewish nation were per- mitted to-hear voices from the shrine, and the record of these Divine instructions was committed to their care as a valuable treasure. 'l'here was the Law from Monnt Sinai-- a political, priestly, ethical, sanitary code; there were prophecy and history, and the strains of men who swept the harp of religious feeling with divinely guicled fingers. Consider the high honour implied in such custoclianship. The isolation of the land of Pe.lestine bespoke a Divine library, whose contents were to be guarded ~uainst contsm.i- nating, destructive touch. It is by their possession of the Scriptures that the Jew:i have won their place in the estimation of the world. Not by their deeds or charncter, but by tbeir writings. Nor ie it that they have displayed a special genius for literature; thero is the mark of the inspiration of God. The prophets were conscious that this was nnd would be the glory of the nation, " Oat of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Neither Greece, nor Rome, nor Babylon has embalmed like Israel the story of its rise, its progress, and its fall. To-day the Jews are silent witnessos to the truth of Scripture-an unwilling comment on the thrents and prediction9 of their own Bible. This librarianship was a real help totmrds n"gh~ness and tht1 obtaining of the blessing of God. Men will de.re ~ything for the attainment of mere empty honour, title~ of distinction, or posthumous fame. But it was surely no slight advantncre to have in these ore.oles suoh a revelation of the nature of God. The e.xistence of one God was plainly taught. And from the conception of him as almighty there was nu ndvance to the conception of an ever-living, holy, all-pervnding Spirit. Th«!n he was revealed as sympathizing with the woes of his orel\tures, and the "Auge! of his face" wo.s predicted as making his soul nn offering for the sin of ml\n. It wss no Anlllll ndvnntage to ·have the searching roquiroments of momlity so vividly enforced, 1111d 11Ltt1sted with 1such august eauctione. 'fho einoere reader could S.."I.Y, "Thy \Vord is a 100 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. m. 1---31.