Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 10:16

"But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" — Romans 10:16 (ASV)

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

So you see that even the prophet Isaiah had the idea that salvation comes to sinners by believing.

He mourned and cried to his God because men did not believe the report which he had been sent to deliver to them.

This report concerned that Man who was despised and rejected of men, that Man of whom the prophet truly said, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ... He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

So few were the obedient, that he asked where they were.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

That is the pity of it—that so many have heard the gospel but have not obeyed it. This shows that the gospel comes to us as a command, because we cannot disobey where there is no order or rule.

O sinner, listen to this! When you hear the gospel, it is not left to your own choice to accept it or leave it, as though you were equally free to do either; therefore, if you reject it, you are disobedient to it.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Oh, no; all who have heard it, have not obeyed it! There are many here who have heard it from their childhood, and yet they have not obeyed it. Notice the word "obeyed", for the gospel comes to you with the force of a command. If you reject it, you sin against it, for it is your duty to accept it: but they have not all obeyed the gospel.

For Isaiah says, Lord, who hath believed our report?

And what Isaiah said is what we also have to say today, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

"But." A sorrowful "but" is this. Oh! this is the mischief of it.

The gospel, then, has an authority about it; or else the Apostle would not speak of obeying the gospel. Men are bound to believe what God declares to them, and their not believing is a disobedience. They have not all obeyed the gospel.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (Romans 10:16)

And what Isaiah says, many and many a preacher since has had to say. "Woe, woe to us for this."

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

All who have heard the gospel have not obeyed it.

For Isaiah says, Lord, who hath believed our report?

As if there were so few who believed it, that he had to ask who they were.