1.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Verse 3
God's righteousness; the way in which God will really justify the sinner.

4.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Verse 5
Leviticus 18:5. The quotation is intended to show that obedience, that is perfect obedience, which the apostle had before proved to be unattainable, was the only condition on which men could be saved by the law.
Romans 10:6-8. (See Deuteronomy 30:11-14.) The first clause in each verse is quoted from that passage; the last expresses the application, which Paul makes of the language to salvation by Christ. The idea is, that salvation by faith in Christ is ready at hand, and is freely offered to all.
Romans 10:9,Romans 10:10. We are thus taught that the faith of the believer must not only be heartfelt and sincere, but it must be openly avowed.

6.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7.

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Verse 11
Whosoever; whether Gentile or Jew.--Ashamed; disappointed.

12.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Verse 13
Shall call upon the name of the Lord; shall look to Jesus, and rely upon him, instead of upon their own good deeds.

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!

Verse 15
How beautiful are the feet; how welcome is the coming.

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.

Verse 17
By the word of God; by the public preaching of the word of God.

18.

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Verse 18
Their sound; the voices of the preachers of the gospel. The language is quoted from Psalms 19:4, and is here employed to express the extensive promulgation which the gospel had received.

19.

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Verse 19
Did not Israel know? Did they not know that the favor of God which they rejected was to be bestowed on the Gentile nations?--Them that are no people; the Gentiles.--A foolish nation; a people despised.

20.

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21.

But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Verse 21
The intent and meaning of the several detached verses of this chapter, and their general bearing upon the subject of discussion, seem sufficiently clear; but the manner in which they were logically related to each other in the author's mind is less obvious. The links of connection are variously supplied by the conjectures of commentators.