Romans 11:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

NIV: For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

NASB: for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

CSB: because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

NLT: For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

KJV: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

NKJV: For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

Paul has been warning the Gentile Christians not to be arrogant and prideful about their place in God's family. They should not be puffed up about their position on the symbolic olive tree of those who belong to God through faith. He has specifically told them not to be arrogant toward the unbelieving Jewish people: those who had rejected Christ and have been removed from the tree.

The only difference between the Jewish people who have been pruned by God and the Gentile Christians who have been added is faith in Christ. The Jewish branches that were pruned were taken off because of their refusal to believe. The Gentile Christians were added because they believed. Faith in Christ is the only difference.

Now Paul writes that if God was willing to break off the natural branches, those Jewish people who were genetic descendants of Abraham, He certainly won't spare Gentiles who refuse to believe in Christ. Faith in Christ is their only hope of remaining connected to the tree.

Romans 11:11–24 describes why God has hardened Israel in her unbelief in Christ. It is to make room on God's figurative olive tree for the Gentile Christians. The old branches of unbelieving Jews have been broken off for now, and the new branches have been grafted in to the root. In turn, the salvation of so many Gentiles will provoke Israel to jealousy, drawing her back to God through faith in Christ when He removes the hardening of her unbelief. When that happens, after enough Gentiles have believed, the old branches of Jewish believers will be grafted back into the tree.

In Romans 11, Paul concludes his exploration of God's plan for His chosen people Israel. It's true that as a nation, Israel has rejected faith in Christ, but a remnant of Israelites has believed in Jesus. God has hardened the rest in unbelief, but will bring Israel back to faith when enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then many Israelites will trust in Christ, as well, and God will renew His covenant with His people. Paul concludes this section with a powerful poem or hymn about God's independence and how He is beyond our full comprehension.

Romans 11 concludes Paul's discussion about God's plan for the Israelites begun in Romans 9 and 10. Paul insists that, though Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, a remnant of Jewish Christians exists by God's grace. God has hardened the rest in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then God will release Israel to believe in Christ and restore His covenant with her as many individual Jews come to faith in Christ, as well. Paul stands in awe of God's vast and unknowable mind and complete ownership of all things.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 10/17/2024 11:48:47 PM