Romans 11:11-24
So, today we are halfway through the year. And I’ve got a shocker of a proposal for you. It’s been on my heart for the last week that next year we do… The Psalms! You all know how much I love the Psalms…! But I think we should do them anyhow, same format, short spurts. Thoughts?
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (vv. 17-21) Paul is still following through on his “righteousness through faith” argument. In Paul’s analogy in today’s reading, the branches and the root are the Jewish people and their forefathers. The natural branches that are broken off are unbelieving Jews while those being grafted in are believing Gentiles.
And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (vv. 23-24) My Study Bible explained this “contrary to nature” phrase. Evidently it is common to graft a cultivated vine into a wild vine and to see new fruit borne, but it is “contrary to nature” to graft a wild shoot into a cultivated vine – typically there will be no fruit. So the thought of the Gentiles being grafted into the Jewish branches is “contrary to nature”, but not impossible with God. Likewise, broken branches being brought back to life by being grafted back is also “contrary to nature”, but again, not impossible with God. Interesting…!
Slava Bohu!
Love it! I was also meditating on the idea that there was already animosity from the Gentiles toward the Jews. My Bible study notes indicate this occurred when the majority in a church were Gentiles. Since this letter seems to have been written in the 50’s AD, this animosity is going on within 20-30 years of the church’s birth… and continues to this day within some churches and other places, here and around the world.