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Romans 11 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
To me, the most interesting part of Romans 11 starts in verse 25. After outlining the difference again between works and grace, and the stumbling that Israel has had over the years, Paul writes this…
So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob. 27 And this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Romans 11:25-27 HCSB
What does Paul mean here when he says “mystery?”
“Why is what Sha’ul says here a secret truth that was not understood until he explained it? Because one would have expected Israel to be the first nation to be saved. Israel has had advantages enjoyed by no other people (Rom 3:1-2, Rom 9:4-5, the Gospel itself is “to the Jew especially” (Rom 1:16), and God has promised Jewish national salvation (Eze 36:24-36, Mat 23:37-39, Act 1:6-7). Why, then, is he doing the unexpected, making the Gentiles “joint-heirs” (Eph 3:3-9) with the Jews? In order to give the fullest possible demonstration of his love for all humanity and not Jews only.”
Jewish New Testament Commentary
Paul directly says that “all Israel will be saved.” Paul not only writes this but then quotes from Isaiah and Jeremiah to back it up. This does not mean that literally every Israelite will be saved because they are Jewish. That would be a contradiction of the Gospel’s foundational principle of faith in Jesus. We already know that Jews who are coming to faith in Jesus (Messianic Jews) are being saved, and they were being saved back in Paul’s time as well.
This statement, then, must be in reference to future events. This is why it is a “mystery” revealed. There will be a time in the future when the nation of Israel (specifically their leaders) embrace Jesus as their Messiah and worship Him as their Savior. Paul writes this is a partial hardening, but it is temporary.
I do not believe there is a “special” way that Israel will be saved. Scripture is clear that there is only one way of Salvation. And when the full number of Gentiles has come in, the partial hardening will be removed, and those in Israel who have been blinded will see Christ as their true Savior and Messiah.
“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 HCSB