Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 11:5

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." — Romans 11:5 (ASV)

Just as there was a remnant then, so also is there a remnant now. The existence of such a remnant is due not to any human merit on the part of those exempted from the fate of their nation, but to the spontaneous act of divine grace selecting them from the rest. These two things, grace and works, really exclude each other.

The Apostle reverts somewhat parenthetically, and because his mind is full of the thought, to his idea of Romans 9:11-16. We also have a break in the train of argument here. After establishing the fact that there is this remnant, the Apostle inquires how it came to be. This was because the mass of the people trusted in their own works instead of relying on grace; therefore, grace deserted them, and they were left to a judicial blindness.