Verses 30-36

Rom. 11:30 “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

“For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:” Paul tells the Gentile believers that in times past before the coming of the gospel unto them that they had obtained mercy of God and God delivered unto the gospel by which they believed and pressed into the church kingdom on earth. Moreover, the timing of this mercy was as the Jews of that day had largely not believed the gospel of the grace of Christ. Even today, receiving the gospel of the grace of Christ is as a result of the mercy of God.

“Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” Paul tells the Gentile believers, of whom it would have been so easy to judge the Jews for their unbelief, that as they had received mercy of God so should they be merciful towards the Jews that fell into unbelief and not be judgmental unto them.

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” At one time everyone who has believed the gospel of the grace of Christ was an unbeliever and God was merciful to all of us.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” This statement is abundant plain and yet so profound. We cannot plumb the depth of his riches neither can we search the vastness of his judgments, and we only get a glimpse of his ways as they are past finding out.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” The answer is simply none has known the mind of the Lord nor have been his counselor.

“Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” First, anything that we may be blest to give in service to the Lord, is by the grace of God. Moreover, the Lord always renders much more to the individual who gives of himself in the Lord’s service than he has given.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Paul sums up this chapter with this statement. The things that we have and even our own existence is “of him.” Moreover, all the blessings and promises of God and deliverances of God are through him. Furthermore, all things are to him for his praise honor and glory.