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Pentecost Season · Proper 15 · Year A

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

God's Mercy on All

August 16, 2026

The Apostle Paul at His Writing Desk, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Apostle Paul at His Writing Desk, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1629–30Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
The old apostle, pen in hand, has risen from his chair and leans over the books on his desk, thinking before he writes; his sword hangs on the wall behind him.I myself am an Israelite … I am an apostle to the Gentiles … for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable … that he may be merciful to all.Rembrandt van RijnPainted in Leiden when Rembrandt was about twenty-three, in the years he kept returning to old men as Paul, Peter and the prophets.Germanisches Nationalmuseum, NurembergThe Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, the largest museum of German art and culture.Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 15:(10-20), 21-28Mt 15:(10-20), 21-28
EpistleRom. 11:1-2a, 29-32Rom 11:1-2a, 29-32
Old TestamentGen. 45:1-15Gn 45:1-15Alt. OTIsa. 56:1, 6-8Is 56:1, 6-8
PsalterPs. 133Ps 133Alt. PsalmPs. 67Ps 67

Overview & Insights

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29)

Paul insists that God has not rejected his people Israel, that God's gifts and call are irrevocable, and that in the end God may show mercy to all, both Jew and Gentile.

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Take it further: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32Working Preacher: Commentary on Rom 11:1-2a, 29-32 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on God's mercy and Israel's irrevocable calling for Year A, Proper 15.

Enduring Word: Romans 11Enduring Word: Rom 11 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

CEP: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 CommentaryCEP: Rom 11:1-2a, 29-32 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on God binding all to disobedience so as to show mercy to all.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Romans 11:1BibleHub: Commentaries on Rom 11:1 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the question of whether God rejected Israel.

StudyLight: Romans 11 CommentariesStudyLight: Rom 11 Commentaries StudyLight

Many complete commentaries on Romans 11 gathered on one passage page.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Romans 5-16 OverviewBibleProject: Rom 5-16 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the second half of Romans and its argument about Israel and mercy.

BibleHub: Romans 11 InterlinearBibleHub: Rom 11 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of Romans 11.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Romans 11Catena: Rom 11 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Romans 11.

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