Romans 10:14-17 - How Beautiful Are The Feet

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Whosoever believes in YHVH shall be saved! But...

Romans 10:14-17 (KJV)
¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Paul returned to his method of asking leading questions. How can anyone call on YHVH when he or she does not believe (verse 14)? How can anyone believe in someone about whom they have not heard? How can anyone hear without a preacher? How can anyone preach unless he or she is sent (verse 15)? Paul then quoted from Isaiah.

Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)
⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

God claims that the feet of him or her that preaches the gospel of peace and brings glad tidings of good things are beautiful!

Paul digressed here a little by pointing out how important the preaching of the gospel is. Without God sending preachers no one would hear and be saved. Even the most ugly of feet become beautiful when engaged in carrying the preacher to his mission field.

But Paul was also again answering potential questions from his opponents. How could the Jews be responsible for not believing, if God had not sent a preacher? Most of the Jews were very familiar with the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, but refused to see Yeshua as their fulfillment. In verse 16 Paul refuted the argument by ultimately saying that the fault of disbelief still lay with the individual Jew, since God had sent a preacher, Yeshua, who some believed. He then quoted Isaiah again.

Isaiah 53:1 (KJV)
¹ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

This verse in Isaiah 53 begins one of the most Messianic passages in Scripture. Upon quoting this verse Paul expected his Jewish readers to understand the full context of his statement. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (verse 17). The Jews had all they needed in the Word of God to reveal to them that Yeshua was the Messiah. God had indeed sent many preachers, the Old Testament prophets, and finally Yeshua himself! They had no excuse.

Although Paul had been primarily dealing with the Jews in this section of Romans, much of the same can be said about the Gentiles. God has sent His prophets and other preachers. God has given His Word. God has given Messiah Yeshua. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!!

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