Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 10:21

"But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." — Romans 10:21 (ASV)

He says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

It is strange that many, who first hear the Word, and most often hear it, turn away from it, while others, to whom it comes as a complete novelty, are blessed the first time they hear it. I sometimes say that there are some hearers, who regularly occupy these seats, who are just like pieces of rubber. They are easily impressed, they yield assent to every truth that is uttered, but they soon get back into their old shape again, and they are exactly the same after twenty years of hearing the gospel as they were before, only that they are still more hardened.

On the other hand, there will sometimes drop into this house of prayer a thoroughly irreligious man, with a heart as hard as a flint, but the very first tap of the hammer of the gospel breaks the flint so effectively that it is never a flint again, and God's grace renews his heart there and then. It is our earnest desire, on all occasions when any hearers are gathered here, that God's saving power may be manifested to all present. So, may it be now, for Christ's sake, and to God's glory! Amen.

But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands –

In the attitude of invitation and entreaty, and readiness to receive, –

Unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

And that is what he has done to you, O careless child of pious parents, you unregenerate hearer of the Word! All day long has he stood and stretched forth his hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people. The Lord forgive all such, for Jesus' sake!

Amen.

But to Israel –

To God's ancient people, to whom the gospel had been preached when Paul wrote this Epistle: "to Israel" –