An ancient olive tree with a massive gnarled trunk on a terraced hillside at dawn, silver-green leaves catching the first light.

The Book of

Romans 11

Has God given up on His people? Paul answers with an old olive tree, a holy root, and a mercy wider than anyone expected.

36 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
9–11God and IsraelHis promises standChapter 11
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and Gentiles

A Remnant Chosen by Grace

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not!

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Paul

grace would no longer be grace

Romans 11:6

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that could not see,

and ears that could not hear,

to this very day.”

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.”

Reflect

Not the only one

Elijah told God, “I am the only one left.” God answered that He had kept “seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Paul says the same is true now: “a remnant chosen by grace.” When have you felt alone in following God? Who might God have placed around you that you haven’t noticed yet?

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Romans 11:15

If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

A close view of a young olive shoot grafted into an old olive branch, the join bound with fibre and clay, in a grove at dawn.

Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.

the kindness and severity of God

Romans 11:22

Otherwise you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

The olive tree

Whiteboard

One tree, one root. Some natural branches were broken off because of unbelief, and wild shoots were grafted in to share the root’s nourishment. So the grafted branches have nothing to boast about: “You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” And the story isn’t over: “God is able to graft them in again.”

Question

Quick question

Paul pictures Gentile believers as wild olive shoots grafted into a cultivated tree. He tells them who holds up whom.

In Paul’s picture, what holds up the grafted-in branches?

All Israel Will Be Saved

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come from Zion;

He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

And this is My covenant with them

when I take away their sins.”

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you. For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.

A Hymn of Praise

Romans 11:33

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counselor?”

“Who has first given to God,

that God should repay him?”

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Pray

To Him be the glory

After eleven chapters of careful argument, Paul runs out of explanations and starts to sing: “O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Praise God for the mercy He has shown you, and for His faithfulness to His people. Where His ways are beyond you, tell Him you trust Him, because “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”

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Romans 11

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A verse to carry with you

O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Romans 11:33

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