Coming from the heights of teaching on the perseverance of the saints in Romans chapter 8, Paul looks down, so to speak, on his lost brethren after the flesh, the Jews. Though they were his worst enemies, he realizes that they are blind and longs that they would know Christ as he does. His grief for his people is so intence that he actually even wishes himself accursed if they could be saved. In the same way Moses prayed that he would be killed in order to save his people. But of course this is not possible, as only Christ would become the acceptable substitutionary atonement.
What kind of love do you have for your kinsmen – your family? Do you anguish over the lost souls of others? Do you grieve over those who are going to hell? If not why not?
