Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 9:15

"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." — Romans 9:15 (ASV)

God’s dealings with Jacob and Esau might be challenged as arbitrary, on the ground that Esau was the object of injustice. To demonstrate that this is not God’s character, Paul goes further into the history of Israel, focusing on the golden calf incident at Sinai. There the people sinned grievously. If God had acted simply in justice, he could have blotted out his people. Instead, he recalled Moses to the mountain and for a second time gave him the Ten Commandments, yet not until he had proclaimed to him, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Exodus 33:19). And lest that mercy be construed as depending on human “desire or effort,” Paul denies any such qualification (v.16). “Mercy” (GK 1796 & 1799), like grace, stands over against human worth and effort whenever salvation is concerned. It is free, because God is not bound to show mercy to any.

Passages Indicating the Deity of Christ Many passages in both the OT and NT help to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is fully God—a teaching often denied by sectarian groups and cults. This chart compiles the major passages that support this important Christian doctrine.

In the Old Testament God’s Son is to rule on the throne at God’s right hand, equal in power with Pss 2:7–12; 110:1–2 the Father The promised Messiah will be “Immanuel” (i.e., “God with us”)Isaiah 7:14 (cf. Matthew 1:23) The promised Messiah will be “Mighty God,” ruling eternally Isa 9:6–7 The ruler born in Bethlehem has origin from all eternity Mic 5:2 The righteous Branch of David is called “The LORD Our Righteousness”Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15–16 The one who will appear in the temple is “the Lord”Malachi 3:1 Self-Affirmations of Jesus His is “Lord” of the Sabbath, having created it Mt 12:8; Mark 2:28; Lk 6:5 He is the “I am” of Ex 3:14 Jn 8:57-58 He is one with the Father Jn 10:30 He is the judge of the living and the dead Mt 25:31–32; Jn 5:22, 27 (cf. Psalms 98:9) He deserve the same honor as the Father Jn 5:23 He made himself equal with God Jn 5:16–18; 10:33 He made himself equal with God Jn 5:16–18; 10:33 He, like God, is everywhere present Mt 28:20 He, like God, is all-powerful Mt 28:18 He, like God, is all-knowing Jn 1:47–50 (cf. 2:22–23) He has the authority, which belongs only to God, to forgive sins Mt 9:2–7; Mark 2:5–12; Lk 5:20-25 Believing in him and believing in God are the same Jn 14:1 To know him is to know the Father, and vice versa Mt 11:27; Lk 10:22 He is the only way to the Father, and to see him is to see the Father Jn 14:6–10 Other Testimonies in the Gospels and in Acts Jesus is the eternal Word of God Jn 1;1 Jesus was present at the time of creation Jn 1:2–3 Jesus is the One and Only God Jn 1:18 Thomas confessed Jesus as “My Lord and my God” Jn 20:28 Evil spirits recognized Jesus as “the Holy One of God” (an OT term used Mk 1:24 (cf. Isaiah 6:3; 30:15) for God) Jesus is “Lord” (the same Greek word as translates “Yahweh” (“LORD”) in Ac 2:36; 10:36 the LXX Jesus is “the Holy and Righteous One”Acts 3:14 (cf. Isaiah 6:3; 30:15; Jeremiah 23:6) Jesus is the coming Judge Ac 10:42; 17:31 (cf. Psalms 98:9) The Testimony of Paul Jesus is “God over all”Romans 9:5 Jesus is in very nature God and equal with God Php 2:6 Jesus is Lord (the same Greek word as translates “Yahweh” (“LORD”) in Ro 10:9; 1 Corinthians 2:8; Php 2:11; Colossians 2:6 the LXX Jesus is the fullness of the Deity Col 1:19; 2:9 Jesus was present at the time of creation Col 1:16 There is only one God and Lord 1 Corinthians 8:5–6; Ephesians 4:5–6 Jesus is “our great God and Savior”Titus 2:13 (cf. 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:10) The Testimony of the Other New Testament Letters The Son is “the exact representation of God”Hebrews 1:3 The Son is God Heb 1:8 God commands the angels to worship the Son, an act that belongs only to Heb 1:6 (cf. Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19:10) Jesus, like God, is unchanging Heb 13:8 (cf. Malachi 3:6) Jesus is “our God and Savior” 2 Peter 1:1 Jesus is “our Lord and Savior” 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:18 Jesus Christ is “the Righteous One” 1Jn 2:1 (cf. Jeremiah 23:5) To acknowledge the Son is to acknowledge the Father 1Jn 2:23 The Son Jesus Christ is “the true God” 1Jn 5:20 The Testimony in Revelation Jesus is “the Alpha and Omega,” “the First and the Last” (a term ascribed Rev 1:8; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13 (cf. Isa to God in the OT) 44:6;48:12) to God in the OT) 44:6;48:12) Jesus is “the Almighty”Revelation 1:8 Jesus is “the Living One”Revelation 1:18 (cf. Joshua 3:10; 84:2) Jesus holds the key of David (ascribed in the OT to God)Revelation 3:7 (cf. Isaiah 22:22) Jesus is “Lord of Lords”Revelation 17:14; 19:16 Jesus received worship from people, an act that belongs only to God Rev 5:11–14 (cf. 19:10; 22:8–9) Paul’s thought moves from Moses to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt at the time of the Exodus—i.e., from the leader of Israel to their oppressor (v.17). The Scripture is represented as speaking, a vivid reminder that it is God’s word. “I raised you up” does not refer to Pharaoh’s emergence in history, but to God’s providence in sparing him up to that time. Pharaoh deserved death for his oppression and insolence, but his life would not be taken during the series of plagues, so that the full extent of his hardness of heart might be evident and the glory of God in the deliverance of his people enhanced (cf. Joshua 9:9). The fame of this Pharaoh actually depended on the mercy of God in sparing him. God can be glorified both through those who oppose him (cf. Psalms 76:10) and through those who trust and serve him.

In his conclusion to the Pharaoh episode (v.18), Paul does not record those texts that say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart in unbelief and rebellion, because the apostle is emphasizing the freedom of God’s action in all cases. God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart can profitably be related to the principle laid down in ch. 1: in dealing with those who reject the revelation of himself in nature and history (and in Pharaoh’s case, also in miracles), God abandons them to still greater excess of sin and its consequences.