Israel Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: An Overview of Romans 11:11-36

Ever since its inception, Israel has never been a fully believing nation. Some of the Israelites were believers, however. Abraham has always had a spiritual offspring among his physical descendants (Rom 9:6–7). Even in the darkest chapters of Israel’s history, so it is today—“there is a remnant” (Rom 11:5; cf. 11:3–4). Generally speaking, however, Israel rejected Christ, rejects Him now, but will accept Him in the future. There will be a time when all of Israel believes.

In Rom 11:11–32, Paul repeatedly explains (five times!) this threefold cycle of God’s plan for Israel: (1) past rejection; (2) present hardening (which means salvation for the Gentiles); and (3) future acceptance of Christ. Like Rom 11:1–10, Paul begins this passage with a question, an emphatic answer, and then an extended explanation. The question is whether or not Israel rejected God so as to be forever rejected by Him. Paul emphatically denies that God has set Israel aside and then explains His plan for Israel. Along the way, he explains that Israel’s present hardening means salvation for the Gentiles. The following briefly takes us through each cycle, ending with how to apply this passage to us today.

Cycle 1: Romans 11:11–12

In the past, Israel “did… stumble,” which was “their trespass” (Rom 11:11, 12) and “their failure” (Rom 11:12). Presently, “salvation has come to the Gentiles,” also described as “riches for the world” and “riches for the Gentiles” (Rom 11:11–12). In the future, “much more” salvation riches will come to Israel with “their full inclusion,” a fullness of experiencing all the privileges God granted to her (Rom 11:12; cf. 9:4–5).

Cycle 2: Romans 11:15–16a

Speaking of Israel, “their rejection” is clear, which led to “the reconciliation of the world,” that is, anyone in the world who believes in Christ. After “their rejection,” “their acceptance” comes in the future, an acceptance that coincides with a resurrection, “life from the dead” (Rom 11:15). Paul’s “dough-and-lump” illustration could picture Israel’s forefathers as the dough of firstfruits (cf. Rom 11:28), anticipating the salvation of the whole lump of Israel in the future (Rom 11:16a).

Cycle 3: Romans 11:16b–24

In the cultivated olive tree of salvation blessing, nourished by the root of Abrahamic promise (cf. Rom 11:28), Israel’s “branches were broken off because of their unbelief” (Rom 11:20). Presently for us as Gentiles, we, “although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others” (Rom 11:17). And if God can graft wild branches into a cultivated tree, we can be certain that God will save Israel in the future—“how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree” (Rom 11:24).

Cycle 4: Romans 11:25–27

While a remnant of Israelites believe (Rom 11:5), “the rest were hardened” (Rom 11:7). Paul uses this language again to say that “a partial hardening has come upon Israel” (Rom 11:25). During this hardening, God also extends salvation to the Gentiles “until the fullness” of this salvation “of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom 11:26). “In this way” (saving Gentiles first, then Israel) “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:27). God will send Christ from His throne to “banish ungodliness from Jacob” and “take away their sins” (Rom 11:26–27; cf. Isa 27:9; 59:20–21).

Cycle 5: Romans 11:28–32

Israel rejected “the gospel,” and thus Israelites “are enemies” and “have now been disobedient” (Rom 11:28, 30). This continued enmity, however, is “for your sake,” meaning that we presently “have received mercy because of their disobedience” (Rom 11:30). Likewise, Israel “also may now be shown mercy,” presently to its remnant, and to the whole of the nation at Christ’s return (Rom 11:31).

What do we do with this information?

A survey of this passage is incomplete without its own three points of application.

First, we must think humbly of our salvation.

Paul explicitly calls out Gentile Christians (Rom 11:13) and humbles us with these commands: “do not be arrogant” (Rom 11:18); “Do not be conceited” (Rom 11:20); he does “not want” us to “be wise in your own estimation” (Rom 11:25); but “See… the kindness… of God” in salvation (Rom 11:22). (And, of course, Jewish Christians should be humbled by their salvation as well.)

Second, we must persevere in the faith.

Instead of arrogance, we “fear” God’s judgment against unbelief (Rom 11:20). Instead of apostasy, we “continue in His kindness,” lest we “too will be cut off” (Rom 11:22).

Third, we worship God for His glorious plan of redemption for Israel and Gentiles.

Israel’s rejection of the gospel means salvation riches for the world. And after that, God will give His salvation riches to all of Israel as well. His wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and ways to plan and bring this all about are beyond our comprehension and are cause for us to worship Him. “To Him be the glory forever. Amen!” (Rom 11:36; cf. 11:33–36).

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David Huffstutler is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. He blogs here, where this article first appeared. It is republished here by permission.

Image by Roksana Helscher from Pixabay