Romans 9:23

That he might make known. The grammatical connection between verses 22 and 23 is defective, but the sense is clear. God’s patient endurance of those fit for destruction is also for the purpose of showing mercy to those willing to undertake the program of God. Though the Jews had deserved God’s wrath, He had borne with them with much patience, both for their own sakes and also for the ultimate good of His entire church.

Riches of his glory. See Eph. 1:18; 3:16; Col. 1:27. For the comprehensive meaning of the phrase “glory of God” see on Romans 3:23.

Vessels of mercy. That is, vessels receiving and experiencing mercy. This could hardly be interpreted to mean “vessels deserving mercy,” as in the case of the “vessels of wrath” (see on verse 22), inasmuch as God’s mercy is not deserved.

He had afore prepared. Greek proetoimazo. The only other NT occurrence of this verb is in Eph. 2:10. Paul distinctly states that it is God who prepares the vessels of mercy for glory, though he does not describe God as fitting the vessels of wrath for destruction (see on Romans 9:22). The way in which God prepares His people beforehand for glory is outlined by Paul in chapter 8:28-30 (cf. 2 Tim. 1:9).