What then? Israel did not obtain what it seeks; but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
Truth to Learn
God chooses some and hardens the rest.
Behind the Words
The word “obtain” is translated from the Greek word epitugchanō. This word is made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and tugchanō, meaning “to obtain.” It is used here in an absolute sense meaning that Israel did not acquire, or obtain, the righteousness they were seeking through the law of Moses.
“Seeks” is from epidzēteō, made up of epi, used as an intensifier and dzēteō, meaning “to seek.” Thus, we see it means “to intensely seek” or “to strive for.”
“Chosen ones” is translated from the word eklogē, which we have looked at before. It refers to something that was specifically chosen.
The word translated “hardened” is pōroō, meaning “to make hard as stone” hence, “calloused or insensitive.” Applied to the mind, it means “hardened, insensitive, or not comprehending.”
Meaning Explained
Paul is now drawing a conclusion regarding the statements that he has just made. That is, God has not abandoned His people, but neither has Israel obtained the righteousness that they tried to obtain for themselves. Those whom God has chosen have obtained this righteousness (because God imputed it to them) but the rest, those who are not elect, were hardened.
We see here, then, two things at work with regards to the righteousness of the elect (Jews in this case). The first is that it is not earned. There is no amount of works that will save them (or us). There is absolutely no single thing or combination of things that can be done which will save them (or us) and give them (or us) the righteousness of God. It is, as Paul says in Ephesians 1:5, “according to the good pleasure of His will” that they (and we) were chosen.
The second thing that we see here regarding election, and the righteousness that comes with it, is that those who were not chosen were hardened. But the obvious question is, “Who is responsible for this hardness or blindness?” Let’s see what Jesus, Isaiah, and Paul have to say about it:
Jesus – He (God, the Father) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them. (John 12:40)
Isaiah – For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
Paul – Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Romans 9:18)
Paul – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
It is God who chooses and it is also God (through various means, including Satan) who blinds or hardens those whom He has not chosen, so that they cannot believe. And even now I can hear some saying, “But that’s not fair!”
In the next few verses Paul will continue with this statement of God’s hardening by quoting a couple of Old Testament passages which affirm what he has just said.
Application
We may not want to believe that God chooses some and hardens others, but that’s precisely what Paul teaches. Your church may teach something different, and you may believe that teaching. We want to believe that we are the ones in control of our own eternal destiny, but Paul teaches that God chooses whom He wants to choose and He hardens the rest. That’s what the Bible teaches; therefore, I believe it.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
