The Jews cannot find righteousness because they seek it the wrong way

 Romans 9:32-33

The Jews sought for righteousness but did not find it, while the Gentiles, who were not searching for it, found it. The reason is that Jewish did not pursue right standing by faith, but by works. They rejected “grace righteousness” and tried to please God with “Law righteousness.” The Jews thought that the Gentiles had to come up to Israel’s level to be saved; when actually the Jews had to go down to the level of the Gentiles to be saved. “For there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22–23). Instead of permitting their religious privileges (Rom. 9:1–5) to lead them to Christ, they used these privileges as a substitute for Christ.

But see the grace of God: Israel’s rejection means the Gentiles’ salvation. Paul’s final quotation was from Isaiah 28:16. (The words quoted by Paul here in verse 33 are a combination of two biblical passages: Isa. 28:16 and 8:14:“Behold, I lay in Zion a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a solid foundation. The one who trusts will never be dismayed” (Isa. 28:16). “For both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall” (Isa. 8:14).) It referred to Jesus Christ; God’s Stone of salvation (see Ps. 118:22). In Zion was placed a stone that made people stumble and a rock that would trip them up. God gave Christ to be a Foundation Stone, but Israel rejected Him and He became a stumbling stone. Instead of “rising” on this Stone, Israel fell (Rom. 11:11); but, as we shall see, their fall made possible the salvation of the Gentiles by the grace of God.

Israel, on the other hand, pursued a law of righteousness (v. 31), but didn’t obtain it? Because they did not have faith; rather, they tried to get righteousness by works (v. 32). They trusted in their own efforts. They said: “Because we are descendants of Abraham by birth, surely we must children of God.” but in thinking this, they had made a big mistake. They thought that because they were circumcised on the eighth day that they were in God’s family. They thought because they possessed the Law of Moses that they were the people of God. But Paul has shown that no one is justified by the works of the Law (Romans 3:20). Even though they were indeed God’s chosen people on the basis of their natural descent from Abraham, in the end they lost the privilege of being God’s people, God’s children, because of their refusal to believe in Christ. Our election, our righteousness, our salvation are all by faith, not by works. Most of Jews tried to obtain righteousness and salvation by their own religious works, and they failed. The Gentiles, who in the Jews’ eyes didn’t even pursue righteousness, ended up getting it through faith.

When the Jewish rejected Christ, they lost their salvation – that is, they stumbled (Isaiah 8:14, 28:16). The Jews could not believe that their savior – who the Old Testament Promised would come – would turn out to be the son of an ordinary carpenter and then, worse than that, end up dying on a cross like a poor criminal. Instead of worshiping such a savior, they despised Him. Therefore, Christ became for the Jews “stumbling stone” over which they stumble and fell.

They did not live faithfully to God. They did not put their trust in God, but opposed God. Instead, the Jews thought they had right standing before God and covenant membership in God’s family by the works of the Law.

Israelites come upon Jesus, look him over carefully and reject him. Why? Because Jesus himself is not bowed toward law and the righteousness people try to earn. He didn't care about their rules. He didn't promote righteousness as they understood it, so they rejected him. Of course, jealousy of Jesus’ popularity made them more angry. But they were right about this: Jesus did not tell people to pursue legal righteousness by their work. He offered righteousness by grace (9:33).

Sometimes we show ourselves that we are very righteous and spiritual. And we are tried to judge others by our lives. But, actually we ourselves not worthy to judge others, because our own lives itself not worthy for that, so how we can judge others.

Christ was stumbling block for Jewish same way he become stumbling block for today’s people. Sometimes, we are also finding something but we are not looking God’s will. We are tried to find according to our will, our desire. But, we become fail to find that things, because that is not God’s will. But, we should try to find according to God’s desire, so we can get it.

Because Jesus is the foundation stone, so that those who reject him must stumble and fall (Matt 21:44). Indeed, Jesus told those who rejected him, “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (21:43). And everyone who follows Jesus, Jew or Gentile, will receive that fruit.