The Jewish leaders had “chafed, not only at the freeness of God’s [alledged] justifying grace, but because there was no difference made, so far as salvation was concerned, between them and the Gentiles. Surely there ought to be a special doorway for them into eternal life, apart from that trodden by the feet of the ordinary heathen world! Were they not the children of Abraham, the friend of God?” (F. B. Meyer)
Paul counters this proud, nationalistic attitude. “For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ (Joel 2:27) For there is NO DISTINCTION between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” “In Jesus Christ there is neither Greek nor Jews, Colossians 3:11. God doth not save any nor reject any because they are Jews, nor because they are Greeks, but doth equally accept both upon Gospel terms: There is no difference.” (Matthew Henry) “For ‘WHOEVER calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved.’ (Joel 2:32a) Romans 10:11-13. Jesus or Yeshua means Yah is salvation. "For there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "Oh, that the salvation of Israel (Yeshua) would come out of Zion!" (Psalm 14:7)
“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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’ (Isaiah 52:7)— Romans 10:14-15. Isaiah was describing the certain return of the Jews to their own land from Babylonian. But: “This passage is applied by Paul to the ministers of the Gospel."(Albert Barnes)
Paul sees in it a greater Return of all the faithful dead in Abraham's bosom, as well as those alive at Jesus' return to set His feet upon Zion. “The whole chapter of Isaiah from which this is taken, and the three that follow, are so richly Messianic, that there can be no doubt ‘the glad tidings’ there spoken of announce a more glorious release than of Judah from the Babylonish captivity, and the very feet of its preachers are called ‘beautiful’ for the sake of their message.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) "They immediately spread the joyful tidings, Isaiah 52:8, and with a loud voice proclaim that Jehovah is returning to Zion, to resume His residence on His holy mountain, which for some time He seemed to have deserted.” (Adam Clarke)
"Hodge has the following clear word on the construction of Paul's defense here: ‘As invocation implies faith, as faith implies knowledge, knowledge instruction, and instruction an instructor, so it is plain that if God would have all men to call upon Him, He designed preachers to be sent to all, whose proclamation of mercy being heard, might be believed, and being believed, might lead men to call on Him and be saved. This is agreeable to the prediction of Isaiah, who foretold that the advent of the preachers of the gospel should be hailed with universal joy.’ etc.” (Burton Coffman) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me." (Hosea 4:6)
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’ [Isaiah 53:1] Some may claim that their Scriptures never proclaimed such a Suffering Servant and conversion of Gentiles to the faith—therefore there is no requirement for them to believe in Him. However, meditate on Isaiah 53:1-12 and find such a Servant.—“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:16-17) "By reading the Bible, you’ll get to know God and the Lord Jesus better, and your faith will increase. The more you study the Bible, the more you’ll see it in your practice both in word and in deed.” (G. de Koning)
“But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: ‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’ [Psalm 19:4a]— Romans 10:18. “Their unbelief was not owing to the want of hearing for they have heard.” (John Wesley) More from that Psalm: “In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race…. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:4b-5;14)
“But Isaiah is very bold and says: ‘I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.’ [Isaiah 65:1a] But to Israel he says: ‘All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.’ [Isaiah 65:2] First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” [Deuteronomy 32:21]— Romans 10:19-21.
The provocation of the Jews to jealousy is meant to invoke a desire to seek God in this life. In the previous chapter, "they had pled, that they were 'all' His people; they had urged, because their nation had been in covenant with God, that He should interpose and save them. Here an important principle is introduced, that they were not to be saved of course because they were Jews; and that others would be introduced to His favor who belonged to nations which had not known Him, while His covenant people would [henceforth] be rejected [unless they convert to the faith of the fathers]. The Jews were slow to believe this; and hence, Paul says that Isaiah was 'very bold' in advancing so unpopular a sentiment.” (Albert Barnes)
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