Paul s Warnings To The Nations Romans 11:17-24

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1 Introduction How will God deal with Israel? Paul has given the Romans an overview of Israel s past (chapter 9); an explanation of Israel s current condition of spiritual darkness (chapter 10) and a brief word of hope concerning Israel s future repentance and restoration (chapter 11). Paul has offered a series of proofs or evidence that God is not finished with the Jew or the Jewish people. He offers his own testimony as proof (v.1); he offers God s faithful remnant as proof (vv.2-10); and now Paul offers a kind of dispensational proof; that the fall of Israel has contributed to the rise of the Gentiles as recipients of God s grace and mercy and love in Christ. Paul has argued that if Israel s fall has brought such blessing to the world; how much more their restoration Paul seems certain that there is a future for Israel as a nation. Paul will now use an illustration of the olive tree. God has allowed a branch to be broken in order to graft in the Gentiles. Paul refers to the Gentiles as a wild branch; contrary to nature (v. 24). In ancient times it was the practice to graft a good branch into poor stock; not poor stock into a good tree. Paul is speaking of spiritual privileges. Paul will issue a series of warnings; Israel s fall and the rise of the Gentiles becomes a picture of the goodness and severity of God. The fact that God has severed Israel and placed Gentiles into a place of spiritual privilege is no cause for celebration. But God has the ability to cut them off as well; and graft or restore Israel once again. There seems to be some prophetic indication that this is in fact a forgone conclusion. At the end of the age the Gentile forces will form a coalition that has at the heart of its perverse agenda; the rejection of God; the rejection of Christ and the annihilation of the Jewish people and the Jewish nation. At that time God will call out His true Church; judge the Gentile nations; purge and restore Israel and set up a the promised Kingdom of God s Messiah. The context seems to require that Paul is not speaking of the breaking off of true believers from the Body of Christ; Paul has already argued persuasively that there is no separation from Christ from the true believer (Romans 8:35-39). The visible Church is made up of primarily Gentile peoples; and we benefit greatly from the spiritual heritage of Israel (the rich sap of the olive tree). Paul s point includes God s future plans to once again graft Israel into the place of spiritual privilege. Paul used the illustration of bread and the heave offering (Numbers 15:17-21). The first fruit and root speaks of the Fathers; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and specifically to God s covenant with them (the land, the nation and the descendant who will bless the world the Lord Jesus Christ). The lump and the branches speak of the nation of Israel (v.16). Now Paul uses the illustration of the olive tree (vv.17-18). Since God loves the Jewish people and wants to receive and restore them to Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ; How should Gentiles react? No boasting (vv.17-18) No pride (vv.19-20). No presumption (vv.21-24). What are the dangers of privilege? Arrogance (v.18); complacency and unbelief (vv.19-21). Sometimes we need to take a good hard look at both the goodness and severity of God (v.22). Paul encourages himself and the Jewish people that restoration is available for those who trust Christ (vv.23-24). Avoid Boasting (vv.17-18) Romans 11:17 (NKJV)17And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Paul uses an illustration drawn from agriculture. Paul also uses a clever play on words; 1

2 The word klados translates branches and ekklao translates break off or broken off. The verb enkentrizo is found only here in the Greek NT. The word is derived from kentron; a sting; so the emphasis is on the cutting or the incision necessary to accomplish the grafting. In horticulture it is normally a cultivated or domesticated plant that is grafted to the wild tree or the wild grape-vine. Paul realizes that the normal or natural process was now reversed (that which is contrary to nature v.24). and become partakers of root and fatness (priotes)... Weymouth a sharer in the rich sap ; Moffat; share the rich growth of the olive-stem ; RSV; share the richness of the olive tree. Paul uses the image of an olive tree as a kind of tree of salvation. Believing Gentiles in this church age are being grafted into God s tree of salvation. The Gentiles are taken from a wild (undomesticated) tree. Under normal circumstances when the wild is grafted into the good the good is conquered or overwhelmed by the wild; however when the good is grafted into the wild just the opposite takes place. The good overwhelms or conquers the wild. The branches represent the unbelieving Jews; the twelve tribes of Israel; rejection of the Messiah has resulted in being removed from the place of privilege; but only some of the branches were removed; and some remain. A godly remnant remains; including Paul himself who has received Christ. The wild olive tree refers to Gentiles; who now share favor once held by Israel and now retained by a remnant. In the Believer s Bible Commentary William MacDonald points out (p.1725); that the wild olive branch is not the church but the Gentiles viewed collectively. Other wise you face the possibility of true believers being cut off from God s favor. Paul has already shown that this is impossible (Rom.8:38-39). In the illustration it is important to remember that the tree trunk does not refer to Israel; but rather of God s line of privilege through the centuries. And the wild olive tree is not the church but rather the Gentiles. MacDonald uses the expression line of privilege to mean; God decided to set apart a certain people to occupy a place of privilege of nearness to Himself. They would be set apart from the rest of the world and would have special privileges. They would enjoy what we might call favored-nation status. In the different ages of history, He would have a special inner circle. The nation of Israel was the first in the line of privilege (see p.1725). The Church has not replaced Israel or God s future plan for Israel. 18do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 2

3 Paul uses the illustration and metaphor as a warning against boasting (bragging). Does this new status give Gentiles a right to boast against the Jew? Paul s answer; no ; if God did not spare the original branch we have every reason to believe he may not spare the grafted branch (v.21). Do the Gentiles have anything to brag about? Do we adopt an air of self-righteousness or superiority or holiness? Do Gentiles have the right to claim a superior place? Any such boasting overlooks the fact that the line of privilege does not have its origin in the Gentiles The word boast and conceit are related....you do not support the root We Gentiles are the beneficiaries of those promises given to Abraham We have received Christ. Jesus is our inheritance. This is illustrated by Galatians 3:7; They that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham and even the Holy Spirit the gift of the Holy Spirit is the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus coming upon the Gentiles (Gal. 3:14). There is a grave danger in forgetting our roots. Paul anticipates the imaginary Gentile s speculation; Beware Of Pride (vv.19-21) 19You will say then, Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Paul knew that some would be tempted by pride to elevate the Gentile at Jewish expense. But it is always a danger to despise the Jew or persecute the Jewish people. William Newell called this one of the three great scandals of history (p.422). The first great scandal was the persecution of the prophets by the Jewish people. The second great scandal was the repeated persecution by the Roman Catholic Church towards those who witnessed to the testimony of the Gospel of Grace; and the third the hatred of Jews by professing Christians. Newell was aware of the great pagan persecutions and Muslim persecutions but reminds his reader such is to be expected from the unbeliever But what excuse can the Christian give? 20Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. Paul admits the statement is true but not completely it is only partially true Jewish branches were broken off. Gentile branches are being grafted in But it was because of Jewish unbelief not Gentile superiority or Gentile resources No the Jewish branches were broken off in part from unbelief and the Gentile branches grafted because of faith 3

4 Once again we must keep in mind that Paul speaks of the Gentiles as a people group. The Gentiles as a people group are grafted in because they stood by faith in a comparative sense; the Gentiles exercised or demonstrated more faith than the Jewish people towards Christ. Jesus speaks of Gentile faith in the story of the Centurion; I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel (Luke 7:9). Paul would later say to the Jews at Rome; Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it (Acts 28:28). When Paul says; they will hear it as a people they are more receptive to the Gospel than Israel. Stand is the opposite of fall. Israel has fallen from the place of privilege. Paul writes to the 1 Corinthians (10:12); Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Paul s warning includes an explanation because of unbelief they were broken off and a call to examination; you stand by faith. And Do not be haughty; but fear Haughty is high-mindedness. Fear is the opposite of high-mindedness. Here fear is connected to a word that means humility that is a conscious sense of unworthiness And why fear? Because of verse 21 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. The natural branches (the Jewish people) He may not spare you (the Gentile people); if the Gentiles forget they are saved from sin by Christ; if the Gentiles forget God s goodness or neglect God s justice or exaggerate self-importance; or cultivate pride or high mindedness There is no place for boasting, pride, arrogance. How do we do that? An attitude of superiority is out of place. We depend on the Lord. We are accountable to Christ. Abandon Presumption (vv.22-24) 22Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. goodness (chrestotes) uprightness early Greek kindness or generosity; severity (apotomia only here in the NT) apotemno- cut off abrupt judgment from God on those who insist on a kind persistent disobedience. Paul calls on the reader to consider two facets of God s character. This is important. Most people are more than happy to consider the goodness of God but quite reluctant to consider His severity. 4

5 The Jewish people were given enormous privilege. But Israel fell into unrighteousness, pride, and the rejection of the Messiah. Judgment has been called God s strange work. What is the goodness that Paul makes is referencing? The Gentiles can expect goodness if they continue in goodness. Paul encouraged the Gentiles in Ephesus (2:11-12) Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands (12) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. 23And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Can Israel come back? Of course If they abandon unbelief and embrace belief in God s Messiah There is not a single reason (other than the one given) why Israel cannot return to the place of privilege 24For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? William MacDonald: In fact, it would be a much less violent process for God to reinstate Israel as His privileged people than it was to put the Gentiles into that place. The people of Israel were the original branches in the tree of God s favor, and so they are called natural branches. The Gentile branches came from a wild olive tree. To graft a wild branch into a cultivated olive tree is an unnatural graft, or, as Paul says, it is contrary to nature. To graft natural branches into their original cultivated olive tree is a very natural process (see p. 1726). Paul warns us to guard against presumption. Conclusion 5

6 Dr. Harry Ironsides would say; Beware lest we mistake our prejudices for our convictions. 6