Jesus is the Good Olive Tree
Hello. This post started out as a pop-up to another post I’ve been working on, but I felt it had so much to offer that I decided to post it instead. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.
Jesus, being the rightful heir to the covenant of Abraham and the promises of Israel, is the Good Olive Tree (Rom 11:24).
Speaking metaphorically of Jesus as the olive tree, Paul writes…
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree.
if some of the branches be broken off The people of Israel who did not receive Jesus Christ as Messiah are spoken of here as the ”branches” which were “broken off” because they failed to recognize Jesus and, instead, crucified Him. The “good olive tree” of Rom 11:24 from which Israel was ”broken off” from is Jesus Christ.
thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them This refers to Gentile believers in Jesus being originally from the wild olive tree of Gentiles all over the world who do not know God and have not received Jesus as their Savior. Those who have received Jesus are grafted into the good olive tree (of God) and have become heirs by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus redeems us from our “wild” nature and takes us unto Himself.
with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree Gentile believers - with those of Israel who believe in Jesus - now live together as branches of the one good olive tree (which is Jesus). Together, they partake of the root and fatness of the good olive tree (Jesus) and as the “root,” Jesus supports His body, which is the church (made up of all believers, Jew or Gentile, everywhere).
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Boast not against the branches This means do not speak against Israel. God has sovereignly chosen whom He will draw to Himself, when He will draw them to Himself, how He will draw them to Himself (Jn 6:44), and He has also the power create vessels for destruction (2 Tim 2:20).
But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee God desires that all come to Him to be saved. There is nothing we have that we were not given (Jn 3:27) and therefore we have nothing to boast about. Mercy is NOT being given what you actually deserve. As far as believers are concerned, God has been VERY merciful to us. Though unbelieving Israel continues to be in rebellion concerning our Messiah Jesus Christ, we must continue in love, to hope and pray for their salvation.
Rom 11:21-22 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.
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee This stern warning from Paul stands to remind believers to always have a healthy fear of the Lord as they consider Israel. We must beware, for if God in His sovereignty did not spare so very many of His people Israel – and we know that God is good - then God should be definitely be, reverently, feared.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity Again, Paul points to the fear of the Lord saying, how God is good, yet also to look upon Israel and see how God can also be severe – so severe that those of Israel who have rejected Christ Jesus are set forth for eternal damnation. That, is very severe.
toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Paul minces no words here, warning again, that as Gentile believers we must continue to love, hope, and pray for Israel. The warning of the apostle is we must continue in the goodness of God so we may avoid being cut off ourselves.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature The unbelieving Gentile world is the olive tree which is wild by nature. This speaks of how believing Gentiles were formally of the world.
wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree Grafting is a process where a cut or slot is made into the bark of a hosting tree – in this case the good olive tree. Then, a branch from another tree (in this case the wild olive tree) has it’s end whittled so that it will fit perfectly into the slot prepared for it in the hosting tree. It is then bound up until the two grow together as one. When this happens, the grafted in branch hybrids with the host tree. ”Contrary to nature” refers to the two different natures of Gentiles and Jews and the miraculous saving grace of Jesus to change Gentiles into believers by faith in Himself.
how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Paul is speaking of the time to come when Jesus will bring the 144,000 Jews back into the sheepfold when He gathers them to Himself. It is prophesied in Rev 7:4-8 and it will happen.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance This would be better translated “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” When God decides something is so, no one can revoke or change it. He is God and there is no other!
Peace out!
Loris Anne James