This is targeted toward the Jewish people in the church of Rome. Jews would have taken great pride in their heritage and assumed they had a special place in God’s heart. Paul points out that even within their history, there were close descendants of Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, who were not chosen by God. Abraham’s son Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. It was through Jacob the nation of Israel came into existence, not Esau. Jews would have been well aware that Jacob was far from perfect. In some ways Esau seemed to be better behaved. Therefore, if Abraham’s grandson could be rejected, how much more so a Jew from many generations later? In verse 32, Paul emphasizes that it is those who did not pursue God by faith who were rejected, regardless of their heritage.
There are people with greater advantages when it comes to having a relationship with God. A person raised in a home where Jesus is known and taught clearly has an advantage over a person who has never met a Christian. In Paul’s day, it was the Jews who had the advantage. Regardless, it is up to every individual to accept Jesus’ payment for his or her sin. You didn’t have a choice in what type of home or culture you were raised in, but you do have the choice to trust Jesus or not.