Written ~ 07-25-2024
Read Romans Chapter Eleven
Romans 11
Chapter 11 continues to show Paul’s heart for the people of Israel. He longs for their Salvation. His very first question in verse one is if God has rejected His own people, to which Paul answers, “No,” because he himself is an Israelite and descendant of Abraham. Paul goes on to say that even though Elijah the prophet complained to God about His chosen people, God was not going to turn His back on them even though they rebelled against Him. God even points out that He still did have a faithful few and He was not going to abandon them.
Romans 11:1-6…
1 “I ask, then, has God rejected His own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 No, God has not rejected His own people, whom He chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—His undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.”
God’s chosen people rejected Him, but that did not mean He was going to “return the favor.” God loves His people and He will always show His kindness and grace towards them. So, when those who were chosen decide to come back to Him, He will welcome them, open arms.
Romans 11:7…
7 “So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.”
Romans 11:11-12…
11 “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But He wanted His own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.”
God’s chosen people did not claim Salvation for themselves, they pushed aside the gift of God’s grace and kindness and kept to their rebellious and sinful ways.
So what does that have to do with us today? Well, because of the ignorance of the Israelites, God’s grace and kindness was shown to the Gentiles (you and me). We are wonderfully blessed by having the opportunity to receive the free gift of Salvation. But Paul, still concerned for his people, longs for their Salvation because he knows how huge the blessing will be for them when they turn their hearts back to the Lord.
The next illustration Paul gives is so good! Visualize if you can what Paul is saying. It’s meaning for us, as Gentiles, should mean everything!
Romans 11:16-21…
16 “And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, He won’t spare you either.”
- If the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too
- The branches of the rebellious Israelites have been broken off
- The branches of the Gentiles who believe have been grafted in
- As to not brag, be reminded, we are just a branch not the root
- Branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ
- Branches were grafted in because they did believe in Christ
We have the same opportunities as God’s chosen people, we have the choice to believe in the Son of God, and if we do, we can be grafted into the tree God originally planted for His people.
Let’s continue to see what Paul says about this tree and the grafted branches.
Romans 11:22-24…
22 “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into His cultivated tree, He will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.”
Should we, as believers already, be fearful that we could be cut off from God if we were to stop trusting in Him like we should (verse 11:22)? I love the response I found to that very question in “The Believer’s Bible Commentary:”
- It must be constantly borne in mind that Paul is not speaking of the church or of individual believers. He is speaking about the Gentiles in general. Nothing can ever separate the Body of Christ from the Head, and nothing can ever separate a believer from the love of God, but the Gentile people as a whole can be removed from their present position of special privilege if they will not believe.
Paul conveys the hope he has for the people of Israel when he says in verse 11:23, “…if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.”
This was said of verse 11:24 from another commentary I was reading (The KJV Commentary)…
- Paul cautioned the Gentiles against limiting God with the “impossible.” What is possible with God could be seen in their own salvation experience: contrary to nature, God had grafted the Gentiles into the family of God. Paul recognized that such a grafting procedure was not commonly practiced. Obviously, the reasoning in this verse is more theological than horticultural. It would be difficult horticulturally to graft broken branches back into the parent tree, but the Jews really belong (historically and theologically) to the parent tree. Thus, they will “much more” be grafted into their own olive tree.
It is also noted in verse 11:24 that the Gentiles were from a different tree all together, a wild olive tree, and it would (horticulturally speaking), be impossible to graft a branch from that tree into a different tree. But God, in His Power, can do what He wants to do. So if the Gentiles are accepting His Son as their Lord and Savior, He will without hesitation add them to His family.
Romans 11:25-29…
25 “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,
“The One who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
and He will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
27 And this is My covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins.”
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.”
Did you recognize a bit of end time prophesy in Paul’s words? Verse 11:25b, “…Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ…” That means God has the Gentile salvations numbered and when the very last person on that “list” accepts Jesus as Lord, Christ will return and Israel will be saved. It is impossible to give a day and a time, it is God who has this information and He alone. But for now, as verse 11:28 states, “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good news, and this benefits you Gentiles…” If the people of Israel continue to reject the Good News of Jesus Christ the number of Gentile believers will continue to grow. This is just one more reason that we get the Gospel message out to all nations! The more people who come to Christ, means more salvations will be added to God’s final number, and the sooner the world reaches “the full number of Gentiles who come to Christ” the sooner our Messiah, Jesus can return to bring us home!
Curious thought here… If the people of Israel had not rebelled and rejected God and the Good News of Jesus Christ, would God have been merciful to the Gentiles? Verse 11:30 says, “Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to you instead.” Luckily we don’t have to find out. God’s mercy has been extended to all disobedience, whether it’s from the people of Israel or the Gentile.
Here’s how “The Message Version” translates verses 11:30-32…
30-32 “There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on Him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that He can personally open the door and welcome us back in.”
Isn’t that a great visual? Even though all of us whether Jew or Gentile, at one time or another we have all been disobedient. But God in His mercy and kindness holds the door wide open for anyone to step through and receive Salvation.
Let’s conclude with the final words from Paul as we end this chapter…
Romans 11:33-36…
33 “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give Him advice?
35 And who has given Him so much
that He needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.”
We may never know why God does the things that He does. But what we are to do is trust Him. He knows far better than us and He alone is the one who “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
~AMEN~