Romans 11:13-24 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles. From Romans 9:1 onwards, Paul has written as a Jew to Jews; here he turns to the other half of the Church (see Introd. § 3).

Romans 11:13. But to you Gentiles I say. Paul's labour in their evangelisation has an ulterior object; he would fain somehow stir to jealousy his own flesh and blood, etc. (cf. Romans 10:19; also 1 Corinthians 9:20-22). I glorify my ministry, make it renowned (cf. Romans 15:15-21, 1 Corinthians 15:10, etc.).

Romans 11:15 states more definitely the expectation raised in Romans 11:12: if their casting away meant a worldwide reconciliation to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:19), what will their reception be but life from the dead! cf. the climax of Romans 5:10.Reception (as in Romans 14:1; Romans 14:3; Romans 15:7, etc.). is the taking to one's home and heart.Life from the dead means nothing short of the final resurrection: Paul asks (he does not assert) whether Israel's salvation, completing the salvation of the world, will not conclude the mission of the Gospel and usher in the Lord's return, which ends the reign of death (Romans 5:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:23-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17); the spiritual resurrection is presupposed in reconciliation (cf. Romans 6:4-11). Sayings of Jesus like Matthew 23:39 prompted Paul's hope.

Romans 11:16. The holy beginning of Israel's history (Romans 11:4; Romans 9:4 f.) prognosticates the ending: the completed kneading will match the first-fruit of the dough (the handful taken for the ritual offering, Numbers 15:17-21); the branches belong to the root.

Romans 11:17 f. The metaphor just used suggests a warning to Gentile Christians, some of whom were repeating the Jewish mistake in imagining themselves God's favourites. Certain of the native branches have been broken out of the old tree; and thou, a wild-olive slip, wast grafted in, etc.You boast over this? remember, The root carries you, not you the root! You owe everything to the primitive people of God.

Romans 11:19 f. Faith secures you a standing in the good tree; unbelief caused their breaking off: they were not broken off for the purpose of grafting you in! Be humble, and fearful of a like fate.

Romans 11:21. God will not spare you either, if you relapse.

Romans 11:22-24. The Gentiles who now experience His kindness, may forfeit it; the Jews, now tasting God's severity, unless they persist in unbelief, will be re-engrafted. God is able to do this; and their restoration is more natural than your implantation. The nature intended is the common strain of tree and branches; cf. Romans 11:16. Paul was no expert in arboriculture; he states the moral probabilities of the case under the figure adopted, without too great concern about botanical accuracy. [See Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies, pp. 219- 250; also Deissmann, St. Paul, ch. ii., where it is shown that the world of the apostle was that of the olive tree. A. S. P. and A. J. G.]

Related Commentaries of Romans 11:13

Romans 11:13-24

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them,d and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

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

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?