Matthew Henry Commentary Romans 10:1-4

"Brethren, my heart`s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God`s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth." — Romans 10:1-4 (ASV)

The Jews built on a false foundation and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith, and many people in every age do the same in various ways. The strictness of the law showed people their need for salvation by grace, through faith. And the ceremonies foreshadowed Christ as fulfilling the righteousness and bearing the curse of the law.

So, even under the law, all who were justified before God obtained that blessing by faith, by which they became partakers of the perfect righteousness of the promised Redeemer. The law is not destroyed, nor is the intention of the Lawgiver thwarted; but full satisfaction having been made by the death of Christ for our breach of the law, the goal is accomplished.

That is, Christ has fulfilled the whole law; therefore, whoever believes in him is counted as righteous before God, just as though he had fulfilled the whole law himself. Sinners could never persist in vain imaginations of their own righteousness if they knew the justice of God as a Governor, or his righteousness as a Saviour.