What does it mean that Israel had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge?

Paul says Israel had “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” They were very serious about God, the law, and religious duties, but they were missing the right understanding. Instead of receiving the righteousness God gives through faith in Christ, they tried to build their own righteousness by works. Their zeal was like running hard in the wrong direction. This shows that strong religious effort, without trusting Christ, cannot save. Paul’s sorrow and prayer for them also remind us to care and pray for people who are sincere but mistaken.

What does it mean that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness?

When Paul says Christ is the “end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” he means that Christ brings the law’s goal and purpose to completion. The law promised life to the one who did everything it required, but no one has kept it perfectly. Christ did what the law demanded and his obedience is counted to those who believe. So we do not become righteous before God by our law‑keeping, but by trusting in Christ, who fulfilled the law and takes away the burden of earning righteousness through works.

What is the righteousness of faith that Paul talks about in this passage?

The righteousness of faith is being counted right with God by trusting in Christ, not by our own works. Paul contrasts it with the righteousness of the law, which says a person must do everything written to live by it. Instead of asking who will go up to heaven or down into the deep to bring Christ to us, the righteousness of faith says the word is near, in our mouth and heart. It means we rest on what Christ has already done in his death and resurrection, and we receive that by believing and confessing him.

What does it mean to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart?

Paul says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Believing in your heart means truly trusting Christ inwardly, not just agreeing in your head. Confessing with your mouth means openly owning him as Lord, not hiding that you belong to him. The heart believes unto righteousness, and the mouth confesses unto salvation. This shows that real faith is both inward and outward, trusting Christ and gladly acknowledging him before others.

Why does Paul say there is no difference between Jew and Greek here?

Paul explains that there is no difference between Jew and Greek because the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who call upon him. Salvation does not depend on being part of a certain nation or having the law, but on calling on the Lord in faith. The promise “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” applies equally to Jews and non‑Jews. This shows the wide reach of the gospel and that God welcomes all who come to him through Christ, without favoritism.

What does “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” mean?

When Paul says “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” he is explaining how people come to trust in Christ. Faith does not appear out of nowhere. People first hear the message about Christ, preached or shared from God’s word. Through that word, God opens their ears and hearts so they truly hear, not just with their bodies but inwardly. This is why Paul also stresses the need for preachers to be sent. God has chosen to use his spoken word about Christ to bring people to faith and salvation.

Why does Paul ask about preachers being sent in this passage?

Paul asks, “How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” to show the chain of how God brings people to salvation. People call on the Lord because they believe, they believe because they hear, they hear because someone preaches, and preaching happens because God sends messengers. This lifts up the work of sharing the gospel. It also shows that God cares about reaching people through clear, spoken good news about Christ, not through human efforts to climb up to God.

What is the word of faith that Paul and the others preached?

The “word of faith” is the message about Christ that Paul and the other apostles preached. It is the good news that Christ has already come down, died, and risen from the dead, and that righteousness is given through faith in him. Paul says this word is near, in the mouth and heart, meaning it is not distant or unreachable. When people hear this message, believe it in their hearts, and confess Christ as Lord, they are saved. The word of faith centers on what God has done in Christ, not on what we can achieve.

Why does Paul quote Moses and Isaiah in this passage?

Paul quotes Moses and Isaiah to show that what he is teaching fits with what God had already said long before. From Moses he shows that the law demands perfect obedience and that the word of faith is near. From Isaiah he shows that not everyone who hears will believe, that some will reject the message, and that God would be found by those who were not even seeking him, like the Gentiles. He also shows that God stretched out his hands to Israel, but many remained disobedient, explaining Israel’s present unbelief.

How can believers today apply this passage to their lives?

Believers can apply this passage by turning away from trusting in their own goodness and resting in Christ as their righteousness. It calls us to hold the gospel as near and simple, not as something far off or complicated. We are encouraged to believe in our hearts, confess Christ openly, and not be ashamed of belonging to him. Paul’s example also urges us to pray earnestly for those who are religious but do not know Christ, and to value the preaching and sharing of God’s word, since faith comes by hearing.

Rom.10.1

Romans 10:1

KJV

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

The Word Brings Salvation

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But the righteousness 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.)

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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, 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 words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought 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 disobedient and gainsaying people.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.