30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

Irony of truth subverts religious notions inherent to the fallen nature. The self-centered sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden continues its onward journey even into the thought processes of God’s people. It is so hard to shake off the thinking of the flesh that there is some essential goodness or worthiness in the human soul that should make the difference between being accepted by God or not. The earlier chapters of Romans and common logic are clear that the rank sinner who openly rejects God would be unacceptable. And to the Jewish mind it was absolutely clear that Gentiles, those not part of God’s chosen people, would be unacceptable to God—they did not even pursue the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, nor did they pursue the righteousness as revealed by God in the Law of Moses. Only they, the people of Israel, were acceptable to God—that is, in their minds.

Somewhere along the lines they forgot that their selection as God’s people had nothing to do with their worth. Their efforts to attain righteousness through obedience to the Law was an utter failure. Their logic was this: “The only way to God is through the perfection of the Law. We have the Law. Therefore, we are acceptable to God.” They left out one fact; the Law demanded perfection, and they, along with all other fallen human beings, had “sinned and fall[en] short of God’s glory” (Rom 3:23). Their efforts to keep the Law totally failed.

God’s mercy was to be their salvation, but in their human-merit way of thinking, mercy from God was only needed for people who were undeserving, not them. In thumbing their noses at Gentiles as being unworthy of the promises that the Jews had, they [the Jews] were essentially negating God’s mercy completely. Yet, as with all of God’s character, mercy is no respecter of persons; it shows no favorites. Mercy extends to those who are unworthy precisely because they are unworthy. Otherwise it wouldn’t be mercy.

What self-delusion they lived under. What irony! The whole point of the Law was to show them how far short they fell, despite their best efforts. At the core, the Jews did not realize they were under the severe judgment of God. Yet through simple faith, even the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, could arrive where the Law was designed to take them: at the foot of the cross, seeking God’s mercy. The gift of God, eternal life (Rom 6:23), was available to all.

Lord, I accept that my religious activities do not qualify me for Your mercy.