Chapter 11
Part 1
In this chapter the subject is still that which first engaged us in the ninth chapter, namely, How is the gospel which God is making known in our day, reconciled with the special promises He made to Israel in Old Testament times? In chapter 9 the claim of the Jews to be God’s people by birth was considered, and it was shown that the Old Testament Scriptures had foretold the blessing of the Gentiles. The 10th chapter made known how it was that Israel lost the blessing, and the chapter we are now to go over together, asks and answers the question, Is their present state of rejection as God’s earthly people final?
The tenth chapter closed with a very solemn word quoted from Isaiah 65:22I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:2), and if you will turn to that passage, you will see that God had much more to say about His people Israel, whose ways had provoked Him to anger continually; yet in His grace, He speaks of a future day of restoration for a remnant of them. Turning to our chapter in Romans we read,
“I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid.”
Paul himself was a proof that the nation were not altogether forsaken. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.
Elias (Elijah), that faithful prophet of a dark day in the history of the ten tribes of Israel, had pleaded with God against the people (1 Kings 19) when the dark shadow of idolatry had settled over the land; other prophets had been killed, and his own life was sought; God’s altars were destroyed What an answer the, discouraged prophet was given!
“I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal!” Was this not a beautiful evidence of God’s favor? He had kept a remnant from the service of the devil, though they were hitherto all unknown to Elijah. So in the present time there has been a remnant according to the election of grace.
Verse 6. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.”
This theme of the free, unmerited favor of God, man’s “works” being totally rejected, is the theme of the Gospel as expressed in the Epistle to the Romans. Israel then had not obtained what it sought for, but the election, the spared remnant, had, and the remainder of the people were blinded, or hardened. For this, two Old Testament Scriptures are referred to in verse 8, where Isaiah 29:1010For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10) and Deuteronomy 29:44Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. (Deuteronomy 29:4) are put together (Psa. 69:22, 2322Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. (Psalm 69:22‑23) is also quoted in verses 9 and 10).
A second proof that Israel is not finally cut off is given in verses 11 and following: The gospel was going out to Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. And for this we have the striking prophecy of Deuteronomy 32:2121They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. (Deuteronomy 32:21). If (verse 12) Israel’s fall is the world’s wealth, and their loss is the wealth of the Gentiles, how much rather their fullness?
The apostle is referring first to the blessing that followed the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, when Israel would not listen; and afterward to the worldwide blessing which will come in after Israel’s turning to God at the dawn of the Millennium.
Verse 13: The apostle is writing to Gentiles; he tells them that “inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office” (or, glorify my ministry). It was to the Gentiles he was sent (see Gal. 2:7-97But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Galatians 2:7‑9)), but his heart went out after his own nation too, that by any means (verse 14) he might provoke them to jealousy, and might save some from among them. For if their casting away be the world’s reconciliation, what will their reception be, when they truly turn to God, but life from the dead? Actual resurrection from the grave is not here referred to, but a national spiritual awakening resulting in the salvation of the remnant of Israel, which the Old Testament prophecies abundantly forecast.
In the 16th and following verses the figure of an olive tree is brought in to illustrate a principle of God in connection with the earth, and particularly with Israel. Three trees are used in the Scriptures in this way: the vine, the fig tree, and the olive.
The vine, as to which see Psalms 80:8-118Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. (Psalm 80:8‑11); Isaiah 5:1-21Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. (Isaiah 5:1‑2); Jeremiah 2:2121Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? (Jeremiah 2:21); Hosea 10:11Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. (Hosea 10:1), John 15:1-61I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1‑6) and Revelation 14:1818And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (Revelation 14:18), represents a religious system in professed connection with God, with the bearing of fruit as its proper function. Israel was the vine, but it was set aside; Christ, as He walked this earth was the true vine, and now the professors of Christianity, real and false, are the branches. Revelation 14:1818And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (Revelation 14:18) presents the end, in a day yet future, of the empty profession of religion—the vine of the earth, without any true knowledge of Christ in it.
(To Be Continued D. V.)