In Romans 10, Paul explained that not everyone who hears the message of Messiah responds in faith, because hearing alone is not the same as being called. Those whom God has chosen and called to be receptive will hear, understand, and be empowered to respond in trust and confession. In Romans 11, he shows that this is part of God’s larger covenant plan through the picture of the olive tree of Yisrael: a faithful remnant remains as natural branches, but some are hardened and broken off through disobedience. Yet the hardening of the natural branches is not final; God is able to graft the natural branches back in. Those from the nations are grafted in to share in the root of faithful covenant and to provoke Yisrael toward obedience. Through all, God remains faithful to have kindness to those who follow Him, ultimately restoring a complete Yisrael according to His sovereign mercy and purpose.
1 I say then, did not God reject His people? Never may it be! Also indeed I, a Yisraelite, am of [the] seed of Avraham, of [the] tribe of Binyamin (Benjamin)
2 Not did reject God His people whom He foreknew. Or not you know Eliyahu (Elijah) what says the Scripture, how he pleads with God against Yisrael?
3 “YHVH, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars; and I have been left alone and and they are seeking my life.”
(1 Kings 19:10; 14)
After the Kingdoms splits, under King Ah’av (Ahab) and his wife Izevel (Jezebel), Yisrael falls deep into Baal worship. Elijah, a prophet, is raised up to directly confront this.
In 1 Kings 17, he declares famine to King Ah’av; their god Baal was a storm god
In 1 Kings 18, after the famine has dried up the land, Elijah tells King Ah’av to gather 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah confronts the people of Yisrael, asking them “Until when will you falter between two opinions? If YHVH is Elohim, follow Him! But if Baal, follow him!” (v 21)
- He tells the 450 prophets of Baal to prepare a bull for sacrifice and he will do the same; calling on the name of those they serve, the god who answers with fire is the true God
- They pray and call to Baal for hours and Elijah taunts them (v 26-27) and even cut themselves to no avail
- When the time comes for the evening sacrifice and Elijah prepares his altar; and even has the people pour water on it three times; Elijah calls on YHVH and He sends fire down
- People worship YHVH and the seize the false prophets and kill them.
- Then the famine ends when YHVH sends rain; Elijah goes ahead of King Ah’av to Jezreel
In 1 Kings 19– Elijah flees from Jezebel and feels alone and defeated, thinking he is the only one left faithful to YHVH. He laments that Israel has broken the covenant, rejected the prophets, and turned to idolatry.
Paul uses this to show that even in times of widespread unfaithfulness, God preserves a remnant.
Just as Elijah thought he was alone but wasn’t, Paul argues that God still has faithful people in Yisrael, even if it doesn’t appear that way.
4 But what [was] spoken to him, the divine answer, “I have left to Myself seven thousand men who not have bowed the knee to Baal.”
( 1 Kings 19:18)
5 Thus then also in the present time, a remnant according to [the] election of grace there has been
6 If now by grace, no longer out of works, otherwise grace no longer would be grace. If however of works no longer it is grace, otherwise work is no longer work.
When Paul says “if by grace, no longer of works,” he is not contrasting grace with obedience- he is contrasting God’s initiative vs human effort as the source of covenant standing. The issue is not obedience; the issue is thinking that works produce election.
Remember in Romans 9:20-21, Paul has said,
“O man, indeed, you- who are you, the one answering back to God? Shall the thing formed say to the One who formed it, Why have you made me thus? Or not has authority the potter over the clay out of the same lump to make one indeed unto a vessel of honor, one however unto dishonor? “
Human free will exists in the response, but the capacity to respond in faith is itself a result of God’s calling and mercy. Those He has chosen are empowered to obey; those He has not called will remain resistant.
The “remnant according to the election of grace” means that God has sovereignly preserved a group within Yisrael who remain faithful. Just like in Elijah’s time, their existence is not because they outperformed others, but because God kept them and called them.
So then the remnant is not the result of people earning righteousness- it is the result of God’s faithfulness sustaining a people who then respond in obedience, because He has called them to obey.
7 What then? What this Yisrael is seeking not it has obtained. But the elect obtained [it]. The rest, now, were hardened
8 As it has been written: “Gave them YHVH a spirit of stupor, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear unto this very day.”
“For has poured out on you YHVH a spirit of deep sleep, and closed your eyes namely the prophets, and your heads [namely] the seers He has covered.”
– Isaiah 29:10
In Deuteronomy 29 before the Yisraelites enter into the land of Kna’an after the 40 years in the desert, Moses warns them:
And called Mosheh unto all Yisrael and said to them, “You have seen all that did YHVH before your eyes in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt) to Pharoah and to all his servants, and to all his land. The trials great which have see your eyes the signs and wonders great those. Not has given YHVH you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear to this very day.”
In Isaiah 6:9-10, he warns the people of Judah of judgment because the people repeatedly reject His covenant and His prophets.
And He said, “Go and tell the people this: Hearing keep on, but not do understand and seeing keep on but not do perceive. Make dull the heart of this people and their ears heavy and their eyes shut, lest they see with their eyes and with their ears hear, and with their hearts understand. And return and be healed.”
The “hardening” that happens is judicial: God allows them to continue in unbelief because of their rebellion.
9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.”
10 “Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see, and bend their back continually.”
(Psalms 69:22-23)
- David is lamenting his enemies and calling upon God’s justice.
- He speak of the consequences of persistent rebellion and YHVH’s judgment on the wicked
Paul uses these examples to explain that God sovereignly allows disloyalty as part of His covenant plan, preserving a faithful remnant, extending mercy to the nations, and showing that disobedience carries consequences.
11 I say then, did they not stumble that they might fall? Never may it be! But in their tresspass [is] salvation to the Gentiles, so as to provoke them (Yisrael) to jealousy.
12 If however their trespass [is] riches of [the] world, and their diminishing [the] riches of Gentiles, how much more the fullness of them!
13 To you now I am speaking, the Gentiles: Upon as much as indeed therefore am an apostle to Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.
14 If somehow I shall provoke to jealousy my own kindred and shall save some of them
15 If indeed the rejection of them [is the] reconciliation of [the] world, what [will be] the acceptance if not life out from death?
16 If now the firstfruit holy, also the lump (of dough), and if the root holy, also the branches
Firstfruit: In biblical thought, the firstfruits are set apart and sanctified, representing the whole and best of the harvest:
- The Feast of Firstfruits (Bikkurim) is celebrated during the barley harvest, and occurs during the week long feast of Unleavened bread, after the weekly Shabbat.
- The command is “you shall bring the first of the sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before YHVH to be accepted on your behalf”
- Just as the first sheaf of barley is offered and accepted by God, Messiah is the firstfruit whose resurrection brings acceptance to all who are “harvested” into God’s covenant people.
Root: represents God’s covenant promises and faithfulness, which includes the Torah and the covenant promises. The root is holy because it is God-given, sustaining the branches
In this analogy, Yisrael was “cast away” temporarily because of unbelief. Their stumbling opened the door for the nations to receive blessing, but the nation itself is still set apart because of the patriarchal promises. Therefore, God is able and willing to restore them again.
17 If however some of the branches were broken off, [and] you now – a wild olive tree being – were grafted in among them and a fellow partaker of the root of the richness of the olive tree have become
Paul is using a metaphor that the Romans would have understood: grafting olive trees
- In olive trees, their roots system determines the flavor, oil quality and fruit quality
- the grafting process takes about 1-3 years, depending on variables
What does the Grafting process look like?
- An oleaster, a small wild tree which is strong and fast growing but producing bitter fruit, is harvested
- A branch on an already cultivated tree is cut and split to receive it
- The grafted branch is then bound tightly with leather strips or plant fibers, and sealed with resin from the tree or beeswax
- For 1-3 years, the branch produces bitter and misshapen olives; inconsistent and still wild. This happens because the branch has cell memory and it’s sap hasn’t fully integrated with the tree.
- When farmers are caring for a grafted tree, they avoid heavily pruning for the first season and alllow the branch to grow. The branch is sheltered from the elements and the olives are often removed to focus on healing.
- After time and protection, the branch eventually becomes indistinguishable from the cultivated tree.
Side note: We can apply this logic to the reasoning why in Acts 15 Gentiles are given only 4 commands of Torah at first, and why Paul repeatedly emphasizes community and teaching in his letters.
18 Not to boast over the branches; If now you boast against [them], [it is] not you who supports the root, but the root ( which supports) you.
19 You will say then, “were broken off the branches that I may be grafted in”
20 Rightly so, by the unfaithfulness they were broken off; you however by faith stand. Not [be] high minded but be afraid
21 If indeed God according to the natural branches not spared, not at all neither you will He spare.
22 Behold therefore [the] chrēstotēti and severity of God: upon indeed those having fallen, severity. Towards you however [the] chrēstotēti of God, if you continue in chrēstotēti. Otherwise also you will be cut off.
chrēstotēti: meaning goodness, uprightness; kindness. From Chrestos– usefulness, morally in character and/or demeanor
23 Likewise now if they not will continue in unfaithfulness will be grafted in; able indeed is God to again graft them in.
24 If indeed you out of according to (your) nature were cut off a wild olive tree and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated tree, how much more these who are according to nature will be grafted into their own olive tree?
Some natural branches (unfaithful Yisrael) were broken off because of disobedience, and Gentiles are grafted in by God’s mercy. But this inclusion is not a cause for pride, because it is entirely by God’s kindness, not by human merit.
Paul emphasizes that God is sovereign over all branches: those broken off could be grafted in again if they return in faith, while the grafted branches must remain in covenant obedience or risk being cut off.
God’s Mercy extends to all He calls, but faithfulness and obedience remain necessary for remaining in His blessings.
25 Not indeed I want you to be ignorant brothers of the secret this- that lest you may be in yourselves wise- that a hardening in part to Yisrael has happened until that the fullness of the Gentiles may come in
26 And so all Yisrael will be rescued as it has been written: “Will come out of Tsiyon (Zion) **the One delivering, He will remove ungodliness from Ya’aqov.”
(Isaiah 59:20-21)
27 And this [is] to them from Me the covenant when I shall take away their sins.”
(Isaiah 27:9)
The “Deliverer” -Messiah- removes the power of sin over YHVH’s people and restores covenant faithfulness.
- A remnant exists still (11:5)
- A partial hardening is present (11:25)
- But God’s covenant with Yisrael is not canceled- it will be fulfilled as the prophets said
28 According to truely the Gospel [they are] hostile for your sake; according to however the election beloved for the sake of the Patriarchs.
29 Irrevocable indeed [are] the favor and the calling of God
30 Just as indeed you once were disobedient to God, now however have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these
31 Thus also these now having been disobedient this, pertaining to your being shown mercy in order that also they now may have mercy shown [them]
32 Has enclosed indeed God all in disobedience that all He may show mercy to [all].
33 O [the] depth of riches, both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and how incomprehensible His ways!
34 For “who has known the reasoning of YHVH, or who has been His counselor?”
(Isaiah 40:13)
35 Or “who has first given to Him, that it shall be recompensed to him?”
(Job 41:11- paraphrased)
36 For from Him and through Him and unto Him [are] all things. To Him [be] the glory forever! Amen.
Paul continuously emphasizes God’s complete independence and sovereignty in all things:
- No one can put God in their debt- no one gives to Him in a way that obligates Him to repay
- His mercy is not earned
- His choices are not reactions to human merit
- His covenant plan unfolds according to His own will and purpose
What Paul has said so far:
Not all physical Yisrael is Yisrael (Romans 9:6): The true Yisrael are those who are part of God’s covenant by election and faithfulness
A remnant still exists: God has preserved a faithful group within Yisrael, just as in the days of Eliyahu; His covenant has not failed.
There is a partial hardening: Some are hardened due to unfaithfulness, but not all, and not permanently
Gentiles are grafted in: Those from the nations are brought into covenant faithfulness, not as replacements, but as equal participants, and as a means to provoke Yisrael toward obedience.
The root supports all: The instructions and promises given by God sustain the Tree of Yisrael, both natural branches and those grafted in
Kindness and severity remain: God shows mercy to those who continue in faithfulness and judgment toward persistent disloyalty; all are called to remain humble and obedient.
Future/complete restoration: “All Yisrael” refers to the full, completed people of Yisrael: the totality of those God calls, preserves, and restores- from among both the Judeans and the Nations
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