Lesson 24 – Romans Chapter 11:1-20
In chapter 10 Paul explained why Israel was in the spiritual condition she was in nationally. Israel was totally focused on obtaining righteousness by their human efforts in following the law, thus she rejected anything having to do with righteousness through faith.
Chapter 11 discusses Israel’s future and answers the question for us; “Has God permanently cast His people aside, or is there any kind of future for Israel whatsoever?”
Rom. 11:1
“I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
Paul starts out once again with a strong statement, by answering his own question, is God done with Israel. “Certainly not” he says, or “May it never be.” In the second part of verse 1 Paul gives us a very brief personal pedigree, showing that he is a Jew, meaning, that he was saved by Christ and he was a Jew.
Rom. 11:2a
“God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.”
His people… this phrase refers to the nation Israel as a people group, and not just the elect, they are in fact the disobedient and stubborn nation of Israel.
He foreknew… God’s foreknowledge pretty much goes without saying, God knows everything from beginning to end. God’s foreknowledge is frequently used to include His intimate loving relationship with all those He has called to Himself, these were God’s thoughts before He created anything.
Rom. 11:2b-4
Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?” But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Paul’s reference to Elijah talks about how Elijah thought that all of Israel had fallen away from God, the truth was, there was still a remnant that God was going to deal with.
I Kings 19:18
“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
From this verse we see that God had reserved for Himself a remnant of Israel, the ones that didn’t turn their backs on God, they did not bow down to Baal.
Rom. 11:5 “Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
Just as back in Elijah’s day there was a remnant for God, Paul points out that a remnant of Jews for God still exists. This shows us God’s grace and His faithfulness.
Over and over, throughout the Scriptures, the prophets said that Israel would be disciplined if she was unfaithful, but always the promise was made that Israel would be preserved as a nation. An example of this type of prophetic statement can be found in…
Jeremiah 30:11 – ”For I am with you,’ declares the Lord, ‘to save you; for I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.’”
God has preserved the Jews by His grace, because He loves them. In Zechariah 2:8 God proclaims that the Jewish people are “the apple of His eye,” and He warns against anyone trying to harm them.
Rom. 11:6
“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
“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.” (NLT)
Salvation comes to everyone through God’s grace. Just as we find that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard,” so also, “by grace you have been saved through faith.” There is a remnant saved by grace.
In the grand scheme of things, perhaps we could say that in this whole world of people, there is only a remnant that will be saved. Pretty sobering when you think about it.
Matt. 7:14
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Jon Courson; “Only the elected ones, the believers, have obtained true spirituality. The rest are blinded. Yes, there is a believing minority in Israel today, but there is also a blinded majority. You can show them verses in black and white concerning the prophecies that were fulfilled in Christ, but they’ll just look at you and smile pleasantly. I recall, during our first trip to Israel, thinking, “Our guides are so close to being saved. Next year, we’ll really get them.” But the next year came, and they were still listening and smiling pleasantly. “They’re really getting close now,” I thought. “Wait till the next trip.” Then eventually I began to see the truth of the Bible. “You’re right, Lord,” I concluded at last. “The majority are blind.”
Rom. 11:7
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”
“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.” (NLT)
When I read this I become sad for Israel. They were a zealous people, highly devoted to God and I believe they really did love to worship God, but somewhere along the line their outward form of worship began to turn inward, that what they could do for God was done in their own strength.
Some found the Messiah, but many did not. The scripture says, “and the rest were blinded,” “but the hearts of the rest were hardened.” is a better translation for us.
• When you hear about someone’s heart being hardened, who comes to your mind?
Exo. 9:12
“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.”
Israel’s heart was now hardened because they had resisted the truth, just as Pharaoh had resisted the truth. Keep in mind that a remnant did listen to the truth.
Rom. 11:8-10
“Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.” (Isa. 29:10)
(9) And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them.
(10) “Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always.” (Ps. 69:22-23)
Paul quotes Isaiah and David to show that Israel’s spiritual apathy toward the Christ was a continual pattern. Israel’s rejection of Jesus would bring countless misery to their nation. When God sees the spiritual condition of a person’s heart and their overall rejection of Him, watch out, as He may very well help them along in their unbelief.
Rom. 11:11
“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.”
“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.” (NLT)
Falling beyond recovery… we have to ask, what is it that is causing them to stumble? Three things come to mind, their rituals or sacraments, their traditions, and their ceremonies, in which all three are a package deal.
Have they stumbled that they should fall?
Paul answers his own question once again with, Certainly not! May it never be! Which is good news for the Jews, literally. God wanted the Jews to become jealous over the fact that He was reaching out to the Gentiles, the uncircumcised ones. After all, they were God’s chosen ones, they were “the apple of God’s eye”, how dare God do such a thing.
Zec. 2:8
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.”
The apple of His eye refers to the pupil… this is an endearing expression, suggesting how extremely important the Jewish people are to God because of His covenant with them. Just as we protect our eyes from the smallest things, God protects and cares for His people.
Does Israel’s rejection of Jesus mean the rejection of God’s plan for the nation? May it never be! The thing is, Israel’s unbelief brought salvation to the Gentiles, and this will ultimately lead to Israel’s salvation, which we will see in verse 26.
Rom. 11:12
“Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!”
“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.” (NLT)
If the world’s been blessed because of the Jews rejecting Christ, think how much more will the world be blessed when they stand up for Christ and see Him as their true Messiah. This will happen just before the Millennial Kingdom begins, when Jesus comes back to rescue Israel, as they face total destruction at the end of the Tribulation.
Perhaps we could ask the question, “What if the Jewish Nation had accepted Jesus as their Messiah from the very beginning, would God had still offered His salvation to the Gentiles?” We will never know the answer to that, but it’s my personal feeling that God still would have presented His saving grace to the rest of the world based on II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Rom. 11:13-14
“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.”
We know the heart of Paul when it comes to him wanting salvation for his kinsmen, he was willing to give up his very own salvation if it meant that his fellow Jews would be saved. Here, Paul is looking at the ministry God gave him, which was for him to deliver the gospel message to the Gentiles. Paul would be totally overjoyed if his efforts toward the Gentiles would cause the Jews to become jealous… to provoke them into jealousy, thus resulting in their salvation.
Rom. 11:15
“For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
“For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!” (NLT)
Being cast away… this is a temporary situation for Israel, even though it has gone on for thousands of years. The day is coming when Israel will see Jesus for who He really is, for when this happens it will be like life from the dead.
Luke 15:23b-24
“We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
The Jews’ rejection of Jesus has brought peace to the world, meaning that salvation was offered to the Gentiles. The Jews’ acceptance of Jesus will also bring so much more to the world.
Rom. 11:16
“For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.”
“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.” (NLT)
First fruit…
Exo. 23:16
“Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.
If we do a deep dive into Romans 11:16 we will see the principal of the tithe, by the mention of the first fruit.
Deut. 18:4
“You shall give Him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.”
By giving back to God your very best, you are showing your level of trust in God. For the person who asks, “Should I tithe my paycheck from the “gross” or from the “net”?” they don’t quite get it. When we give off the top, meaning, we’re giving of our very best, this means you’re going to trust God with your life and wellbeing. Besides showing your trust and admiration for the Lord, you’re also showing the condition of your heart. Everything you have belongs to God.
Mal. 3:8
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat You?’ You have cheated Me of the tithes and offerings due to Me.” (NLT)
It’s my testimony, that you give to the Lord in good times and in bad, He’s got your back. Give the first fruits of your dough, and the whole lump will be sanctified.
Because the people of Israel understood the meaning of “first fruit” would sanctify the whole lump,” Paul used this analogy to refer to the nation itself, saying, that because of Israel’s first fruit, consisting of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob being sanctified, the entire nation (The whole lump) would one day be sanctified.
Now does this mean everyone in the Jewish nation will be saved? As Paul would say, “Of course not!” Just as every Gentile will have to give an account of what they did personally with Jesus, so will every Jew have to do the same.
Rom. 11:17
“And 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,”
The branches that were broken off, is a picture of the Jews who rejected Jesus. The wild olive tree represents the Gentiles, and the olive tree is the true Israel. Gentiles, being a wild olive tree (the wild ones), we have been grafted in to the olive tree… this was a supernatural act done by God. And now, the wild ones are supernaturally injected into God’s holy family.
Hos. 14:6
“His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.”
And with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
Rom. 4:16-17
“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” (NLT)
The description; “many nations,” points to the Gentiles, and every Gentile who has given their life to Christ can consider Abraham to be their spiritual father, this is what it means by, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Remember, Abraham was declared by God as “righteous” because of his faith, and it is through this same faith that a Gentile comes to Christ. Abraham represents the root and fatness of the olive tree, which is the divine blessing and having an eternal relationship with God through salvation.
Rom. 11:18
“Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
For a believer to boast against the Jews would be a childish and prideful thing to do. When in reality, we did nothing to gain our salvation, it is a free gift from God.
Eph. 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
To boast in this context means: to glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury (of a person or thing). To put it in a crude way, it would be like saying to a Jew, “I have salvation and you don’t… nana nana nana.”
Gal. 6:14
“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” (NLT)
If we are to boast in anything, it needs to be in the accomplishments of the Lord.
But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
John MacArthur; “The Gentiles themselves were not the source of blessing any more than believing Jews had been. Believing Gentiles are blessed by God because they are spiritual descendants of faithful Abraham.
We are blessed because we have been grafted into the covenant of salvation that God made with Abraham and now graciously offers to all who believe in Abraham’s God.”
Rom. 11:19-20
“You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.”
From The Message; “It’s certainly possible to say, “Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!” Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you’re on the tree is because your graft “took” when you believed, and because you’re connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you flexible and green.”
It’s interesting to see God’s sovereign hand in the breaking off of Israel. It can’t come as too much of a surprise to us, because we see all throughout the Old Testament how Israel was constantly disobeying God and turning to idol worship.
Exo. 32:9
“And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!”
Exo. 33:3
“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
These two scriptures describe the stubbornness of Israel and how they refused to follow the ways of God. In our verse it says, Branches were broken off, this is referring to Israel because they wouldn’t put their faith in the chosen Messiah, they were guilty of unbelief. Paul agrees that this is a true statement, and he says, “Well said.” The NLT goes on… “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.”
If Gentiles are found in unbelief as well, they would find themselves in the same quagmire as the Jews. We see in John 15 Jesus teaching about branches.
John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
Israel certainly didn’t abide in Jesus, you have to have faith in Him to be able to abide and Israel did not believe. Israel was broken off or cast out as a branch, but Israel has not been burned up per se, meaning that she has not been cast into eternal punishment yet. For the Jews of today and tomorrow, they still have the opportunity to receive Christ.
We Gentiles are on the sidelines seeing all that has taken place with the Jews, but for the grace of God go the Gentiles.
And you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
For the Gentile, salvation has come by faith, it is a gift from God. There’s nothing for us to brag about, nothing to boast about. Our only boast is in our Lord Jesus Christ. God is by no means done with His “Chosen people,” He still has a plan and purpose for them. In the meantime, we are to pray for and support Israel the best we can.