Romans 11:11-24

Paul had broached this subject of Israel back in Romans 3:3-4 when he asked if the unbelief of some would made God’s faithfulness without effect.  His answer is “Certainly not!”  His reason is two-fold.  First, God is by nature “true” or faithful.  He cannot be unfaithful.  Second, he quotes from David’s prayer of confession (Psalm 51:4): That you may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.  In today’s passage we begin to see the righteousness of God’s words.  Those who thought God was done with Israel were wrong; He had a plan by which He would be praised as it unfolded.  

The plan is seen succinctly in 11:11-12: through Israel’s sin salvation has come to the Gentiles (v13-25); there will yet be a time of fullness for Israel (v26-32).

Paul acknowledges his special ministry to the Nations/Gentiles (v13) but sees this as a means of provoking to jealousy the Jews so some of them will be saved (v14; cf. Rom. 10:19 which quotes the Song of Moses, Deut. 32:21).  Israel’s being cast away was good for the world; her future acceptance will mean “life from the dead” (cf. Ezek. 37, the prophecy of the “valley of dry bones” where the nation is resurrected in latter times).  

To explain this more clearly Paul uses the illustration of the olive tree.  Olive trees were enduring trees that were of great benefit for healing, for light and for food.  They make a great picture of God’s people.  The root speaks of the fathers, perhaps primarily Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The tree is initially Israel.  But because of her sin she is broken off and branches from a wild olive tree are grafted in.  This pictures believers from the nations who are saved.  The tree represents visible Israel (some are not true believers) and the visible Church (again, some are not truly saved).  It is like the picture Christ painted of the wheat and tares in Matt. 13:24-30, where wheat and weeds that look like wheat grow up together until they are harvested at the judgment.

There is a two-fold warning to the visible Church (Gentile believers in this age).  First, they must not be proud (v18-20) but remember that their position is by faith.  Through unbelief the Gentiles can be cut off the tree even as those of unbelieving Israel were cut off.  This leads then to the second warning, to fear God (v20-24), lest the Gentiles turn away from God and be cut off of the tree.  This apostasy by the Church is predicted elsewhere in the New Testament (2 Thess. 2:3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).

We are building towards a great crescendo of praise for God at the end of the chapter.  In today’s passage we see His amazing wisdom.  What appeared to be a failure on God’s part, that He was unable to maintain His unconditional covenant with Abraham, has in fact become the means of glorious praise for God.  Out of Israel’s rejection the gospel has come to the nations.  Tomorrow we will see that God’s promise to Israel is still intact.  Truly He is the all-wise God!