Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 9:33

"even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame." — Romans 9:33 (ASV)

Paul now introduces a contrast between Gentiles and Israel, emphasizing that what has come to the former by the exercise of faith has been denied the latter by their insistence on seeking righteousness on the basis of works.

There is no blanket inclusion of all Gentiles; only those are included who meet the description laid down here—that of not pursuing righteousness in the manner followed by the children of Israel. Paul uses the figure of a foot race. The paradox here is sharp—Gentiles who are unconcerned about acquiring righteousness actually get the prize, even though they are not competing in the race with the Jews. The prize is justification by faith. It is a pitiful picture of the nation of Israel struggling intensely to perfect their religious life and coming up empty-handed. Gentile success is attributed to their avoidance of the false approach of the Jew and their willingness to receive righteousness as a gift. Hardly a passage in the NT is stronger than this one in its exposure of the futility of works as a means of justification.

Verse 31 presents a difficulty: “But Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.” What is the “it”? The Greek has the word “law” here. Yet the reader looks for a repetition of the word “righteousness.” Perhaps we can translate, “has not attained to such a law” (i.e., the law of righteousness in the sense of righteousness gained by means of the law). Israel confusedly identified their own works, in which they took pride, with the absolute standard the law requires. Their whole effort was not grounded in faith but in works designed to gain acceptance (v.32).

“They stumbled over the stumbling stone” (v.32). The analogy of the race continues to influence Paul’s thought. Absorbed in their own efforts, the Israelites did not recognize in Christ the stone of their prophetic Scripture and they fell headlong over him. By failing to receive him, they denied their own election of which he was the fulfillment and crown. Paul’s quotation of Isa 8:14; 28:16 here demonstrates that the Lord Jesus himself, though provided as a foundation stone for faith and life, was actually to become for Israel a stumbling stone. This became especially true with respect to his cross (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23). The misdirection of Israel’s thinking became painfully clear in that the preaching of the cross, the event that was at once the quintessence of her sin and the sole hope of her salvation, left her defiant in her self-righteousness.