A Warning to Gentile Believers
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. Romans 11:17-22
The olive, cultivated in orchards throughout Palestine, was a common emblem of Israel (Jeremiah 11:16). Paul will now use this symbol to illustrate his teaching about Jews and Gentiles. The cultivated olive tree is the people of God whose root is the patriarchs and whose stem represents the continuity through the centuries. ‘Some of the branches have been broken off’ (11:17), meaning the unbelieving Jews who have been temporarily discarded, ‘and you,’ Gentile believers, ‘though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others,’ the Jewish remnant, so that you ‘now share’ with them ‘in the nourishing sap from the olive root’ (11:17).
Paul develops this picture of the olive tree to teach two lessons. The first is a warning to Gentile believers not to presume (11:17-22) and the second, a promise to Jewish unbelievers that they could be restored (11:23,24).
First, the warning to the Gentile believers. The olive tree has experienced both a pruning and a grafting. Some branches have been cut out of the cultivated tree. These are the unbelieving Jews. In their place a wild shoot has been grafted in. These are Gentiles who have come to Christ and have been welcomed into God’s people. ‘Do not boast over those other branches’ (11:18).
Paul gives four reasons why they shouldn’t boast. First, they must remember their dependence on the root. Branches have no life in themselves. ‘Consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you’ (11:18).
Secondly, they must recognise that their stability is due solely to their faith. Don’t brag that: “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in” (11:19). ‘Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith’ (11:20). The Gentile position then is both secure but vulnerable.
Thirdly, ‘Do not be arrogant, but be afraid’ (11:20). Don’t ever forget what happened to unbelieving Israel who belonged “naturally” to the olive tree. ‘For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either’ (11:21).
And fourthly, ‘recognise the kind of God you serve.’ Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness’ in judgement ‘to those who fell,’ the apostate Jews, ‘but kindness to you (believing Gentiles who have been incorporated by God’s sheer grace) provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off’ (11:22). Those who truly belong to Him will never be rejected but perseverance is the authentic mark of God’s children.