THE OLIVE TREE

Passage: Romans 11:13-24

Key verse: 20

NIV

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(A) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(B) and save(C) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(D) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(E) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(F) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(G) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(H) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(I) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(J) Do not be arrogant,(K) but tremble.(L) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness(M) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(N) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(O) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(P) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(Q) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as (A)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and (B)thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means (C)the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 (D)If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if (E)some of the branches were broken off, and you, (F)although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[a] of the olive tree, 18 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. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you (G)stand fast through faith. So (H)do not become proud, but (I)fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, (J)provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise (K)you too will be cut off. 23 And (L)even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 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.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 11:17 Greek root of richness; some manuscripts richness
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Life from the dead (13-16)

Paul, a Jew, was an apostle to the Gentiles, but he loved his own people. He prayed that his Gentile ministry might make the Jews jealous enough to repent and return to God. It would be like a dead man coming to life. The root of Israel is the Messiah-and God's Messianic promise (Isa 11:1). The whole olive tree is the people of God. If branches are connected to God and his Christ, they are alive. If they are cut off from him, they are dead. Paul prayed for Israel to recover her life and mission.

2. Grafted branches (17-24)

Paul is writing to Gentile believers. He wants them to have a sense of history. They should not be arrogant; they should fear God. Israel was cut off because of pride and unbelief. Gentiles are included by God's grace because of their faith alone. They derive their nourishment from being attached to the root, by being a part of God's people and his history. If Israel repents and believes, she can again be grafted into God's history.

Prayer: Lord, by grace you grafted me into Jesus and into your redemptive history. Help me to stand.

One Word: Stand by faith, connected to the root