New Testament Commentary - Romans 10

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 10 Salvation comes through righteousness to those who believe in Christ—Faith comes by hearing the gospel taught by legal administrators sent of God.
1 BRETHREN, my heart's desire and prayer to God^a for Israel is, that they might be ^asaved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a ^azeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's ^arighteousness, and ^bgoing about to establish their own righteousness, have not ^csubmitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.	1^a my heart's desire and prayer to God Paul here sets out a tenet of prayer, which is to petition God for one's worthy heart's desires. It is what one feels in their heart, that love which is the pure love of God know as charity, which will bring men to God and will purify the heart of man to come to being one with God. Paul's righteous heart's desire here is for salvation to come upon all Israel.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 For Christ is the ^aend of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law^a, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.	5^a Moses describeth the righteous which is of the law Now the Jewish have expanded upon the 'laws of Moses' to have some 613 laws and statutes of righteousness whereby a man must live to gain salvation. These range from the two great commandments of the Love of God and the Love of one's neighbor as one's own self. And those expand into the famous Ten Commandments, the first 5 dealing with God incluing that of honoring our father and mother in heaven, even as we are to also honor our father and mother on earth which is our heveanly chain of linage claim in God as God's chosen people. And then of course the last five of not to kill, committ adultry, steal, bear false witness, or covet. From there there are numerous 'temple' performance laws of sacrifice and also civil laws of the details of how to live and deal one with another. On top of that Israel - the Jews have even more traditional laws even down to the manners of washing of the hands before eating that make up the 613 laws, regulations and statutes of the Jews of Jesus time and today.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
6 But the ^arighteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved^a.	9^a if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, as salvation and the resurrection is a free gift to all men if they but confess that Jesus Christ performed the atonement and recognize him as their redeeming Lord. But then come a matter of kingdom of glory and reward based upon a man's good works and worthiness. This aspect of the 'exaltation and eternal life' of man is more beyond just being resurrected living forever. It is a matter of where and how one will live forever, like unto God or in a lesser degree and kingdom of lesser glory.
10 For with the ^aheart man ^bbelieveth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto ^csalvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no ^adifference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is ^brich unto all that ^ccall upon him. 13 For whosoever shall ^acall upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not ^abelieved? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a ^bpreacher? 15 And how shall they ^apreach, except they be ^bsent?^a as it is written, How beautiful are the ^cfeet of them that preach^b the ^dgospel of ^epeace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all ^aobeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath ^bbelieved our report?	15^a how shall they preach, except they be sent? There is order in God's house and authority must be give and no one take such unto themselves exect they be properly authorized and sent. And so being empowered than they do speak by the power and authorization of God. 15^b How beautiful are the feet of them that preach Again, this speaks of the authorized bearers of the gospel as preachers, teachers and administrators of the Gospel who go forth in and by the power of God.
17 So then ^afaith cometh by ^bhearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their ^awords unto the ends of the ^bworld.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to ^ajealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But ^aEsaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that ^bsought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a ^adisobedient and ^bgainsaying people.