22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:22-24 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
As if the apostle had said, “What though God does not presently punish the obstinate and unbelieving Jews according to their desert, but bears with them, and exercises forbearance towards them, and they go on by their continual rebellions to make themselves fit objects of his wrath; but he is pleased still with great gentleness and patience to bear with them as he did with Pharaoh; and if after all, they be more hardened, as he was, by God’s forbearance, what show of injustice, I pray, is it if he punishes them at last with greater severity, as God did him? If he swallows up their nation, destroys their temple, ruins their city, what injustice is it to destroy those, who, by making themselves objects of God’s wrath, are fitted for destruction?”
Here note, That the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, are such as the apostle says, God endured with much long suffering; and therefore they were not made vessels of wrath by God, but by themselves; after they had filled up the measure of their sins, and thereby fitted themselves as vessels for destruction. God endured them with much long-suffering, though judgment at last took hold upon them to the uttermost.
Learn hence, That Almighty God may, without the least suspicion of injustice or unrighteousness, punish with the utmost severity such a person or a people, whom he has long endured with much forbearance to go on in the course of sinning if, at last, they repent not. This was the manner of God’s dealing with the Jews here. His lenity towards the Gentiles is next expressed, ver. 22 That he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, &c.
As if the apostle had said, Can God be taxed with unrighteousness in showing the riches of his glorious grace and mercy towards the despised Gentiles, whom he has called to the faith of Christ, and thereby fitted and prepared them to be vessels of mercy? Has he not just right to show his mercy to such persons who have submitted to the terms upon which he hath promised favour and acceptance, and to own them as his peculiar people, although they are not the natural seed of Abraham, seeing they are his spiritual?
Note here, That as the unbelieving Jews were called, in the former verse, vessels of wrath; so the believing Gentiles are called, in this verse, vessels of mercy; because as vessels are fitted and formed by the hand of the artificer for the use to which they are designed, in like manner are believers wrought by God and framed by his Holy Spirit, and made meet to receive the mercy of God, that is, the fruits and effects of his mercy, especially pardon of sin and peace with God.
Concerning the vessels of wrath, the apostle speaks passively; they are fitted for destruction. Concerning the vessels of mercy, he speaks actively that God has prepared them unto glory; that is, made them meet and fit by grace here for glory hereafter.
Learn thence, That the new creation of the saints and all the spiritual workmanship that is found upon them is to be ascribed unto God, and to the effectual working of his grace: He hath afore prepared them unto glory.
Learn, 2. That the fullest measures of glory hereafter shall be the portion of such, and only such, as are first prepared by grace and holiness to receive them here.
Learn, 3. That those only are vessels of mercy prepared by God unto glory, who upon the evangelical call have been prevailed with, by faith and repentance, to answer the command and call of God: That he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us whom he hath called.