Why does Paul spend Romans 9-11 dealing with Israel instead of continuing his instructions for Gentiles?
Paul pauses his Gentile instructions because Romans 9–11 is a parenthetical section addressing Israel’s past, present, and future. He does so out of deep love and sorrow for the Jewish people, even wishing himself accursed for their sake, mirroring Moses’ willingness to be blotted out to spare Israel.
Les explains that Romans 9–11 is a parenthetical section where Paul leaves off his instructions and doctrines for Gentiles and deals with the nation of Israel for three chapters: past, present, and future. Paul introduces it with truth in Christ, his conscience bearing witness in the Holy Spirit, and great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart. He says he could wish himself accursed from Christ because of his love for the Jew. Moses said almost the same thing, asking God to spare the people and, if it would help, blot his name out of the book of life, but spare Israel.