After condemning the heathen, the moralist, and the religious person (Jew), Paul then turns to note the advantage which the Jew (religious person ) has.
This passage must have come as a real shock to the Jew. After all, were they not God’s chosen people? Were they not descendants of Abraham? Did God not lead them through the wilderness and perform miracles for their good. Did God not show His special favor for them throughout the OT? Did God not promise them that the promised Messiah would come from the line of Abraham? Did God not provide the gospel (good news) to the Jew first and later to the Greek? History affirms that we can respond to each of these questions with a resounding “YES!”...
If you remember the sermon from last week, you probably are looking forward to getting on to the positive message instead of the negative presentation. For your encouragement let me say that we will get there in a few weeks, but for now we need to consider the development of the Apostle Paul in showing why God’s judgment on humanity is justified. It is necessary for Paul to dwell on the negative because humans usually have a higher opinion of themselves than is warranted.
