11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.
[2] {cast} That Israel has not been forever set aside is the theme of this chapter. (1) The salvation of Paul proves that there is still a remnant (v.1) (2) The doctrine of the remnant proves it (vs 2-6). (3) The present national unbelief was foreseen (vs 7-10). (4) Israel's unbelief is the Gentile opportunity (vs 11-25). (5) Israel is judicially broken off from the good olive tree, Christ (vs. 17-22). (6) they are to be grafted in again (vs 23,24). (7) The promised deliverer will come out of Zion and the nation will be saved (vs 25-29). That the Christian now inherits the distinctive jewish promises is not taught in Scripture. The Christian is of the heavenly seed of Abraham # Ge 15:5,6 Ga 3:29 and partakes of the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant ¯ See Note "Ge 15:18" but Israel as a nation always has it own place, and is yet to have its greatest exaltation as the earthly people of God. See "Israel" # Ge 12:2 Ro 11:26 "Kingdom" # Ge 1:26-28 Zec 12:8
11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.
11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
[1] {Remnant} Remnant, Summary: In the history of Israel, a "remnant" may be discerned, a spiritual Israel within the national Israel. In Elijah's time 7,000 had not bowed the knee to Baal # 1Ki 19:18 In Isaiah's time it was the "very small remnant" for whose sake God still forbore to destroy the nation # Isa 1:9 During the captivities the remnant appears in Jews like Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Esther, and Mordecai. At the end of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity it was the remnant which returned under Ezra and Nehemiah. At the advent of our Lord, John the Baptist, Simeon, Anna, and "them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" # Lu 2:38 were the remnant. During the church- age the remnant is composed of believing Jews # Ro 11:4,5 But the chief interest in the remnant is prophetic. During the great tribulation a remnant out of all Israel will turn to Jesus as Messiah, and will become His witnesses after the removal of the church # Re 7:3-8 Some of these will undergo martyrdom # Re 6:9-11 some will be spared to enter the millennial kingdom # Zec 12:6-13:9 Many of the Psalms express, prophetically, the joys and sorrows of the tribulation remnant.
11:6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 11:12 Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.
11:15 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?
11:16 For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches. 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
11:22 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.
11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 11:24 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? 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[2] {fullness} The "fullness of the Gentiles" is the completion of the purpose of God in this age, viz. the outcalling from among the Gentiles of a people for Christ's name, "the church which is His body" # Eph 1:22,23 Cf # Ac 15:14 Eph 4:11-13 1Co 12:12,13 It must be distinguished from "the times of the Gentiles" # Lu 21:24
11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
[1] {Jacob} Summary: Israel, so named from the grandson of Abraham, was chosen for a fourfold mission: (1) To witness to the unity of God in the midst of universal idolatry # De 6:4 Isa 43:10,12 (2) to illustrate to the nations the blessedness of serving the true God # De 33:26-29 1Ch 17:20,21 Ps 144:15 (3) to receive, preserve, and transmit the Scripture # De 4:5-8 Ro 3:1,2 (4) to produce, as to His humanity, the Messiah # Ge 3:15 12:3 22:18 28:10-14 49:10
2Sa 7:12-16 Isa 7:14 9:6 Mt 1:1 # Ro 1:3 According to the prophets, Israel, regathered from all nations, restored to her own land and converted, is yet to have her greatest earthly exaltation and glory. See "Kingdom (O.T.)" # Ge 1:26 Zec 12:8 N.T. # Lu 1:31-33 1Co 15:24 "Davidic Covenant" ¯ See Note "2Sa 7:16"
11:27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
11:28 As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.
11:29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.
