Romans 11

God’s Continuing Love for Jewish People

1 So I ask, “Has God rejected his people Israel?” That’s unthinkable! Consider this. I’m an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.2 God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says,3 “Lord, they’ve killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”4 But what was God’s reply? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal.”5 So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.t

6 If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness.
7 So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed,

8 as Scripture says,
“To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep.Their eyes don’t see,and their ears don’t hear!”9 And David says,“Let the table set for them become a trap and a net,a snare and a punishment for them.10 Let their vision become clouded so that they cannot see.Let them carry back-breaking burdens forever.”11 So I ask, “Has Israel stumbled so badly that it can’t get up again?” That’s unthinkable! By Israel’s failure, salvation has come to people who are not Jewish to make the Jewish people jealous.

12 The fall of the Jewish people made the world spiritually rich. Their failure made people who are not Jewish spiritually rich. So the inclusion of Jewish people will make the world even richer.
13 Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry.14 Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them.

15 If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.
16 If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy.17 But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.18 So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you.19 “Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.”20 That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid.21 If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either.

22 Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off from the tree.
23 If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that.

24 In spite of the fact that you have been cut from a wild olive tree, you have been grafted onto a cultivated one. So wouldn’t it be easier for these natural branches to be grafted onto the olive tree they belong to?
25 Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.

26 In this way Israel as a whole will be saved, as Scripture says,
“The Savior will come from Zion.He will remove godlessness from Jacob.27 My promiset to them will be fulfilledwhen I take away their sins.”28 The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors.29 God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone.30 In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people.31 In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you.

32 God has placed all people into the prison of their own disobedience so that he could be merciful to all people.
33 God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deepthat it is impossible to explain his decisionsor to understand his ways.34 “Who knows how the Lord thinks?Who can become his adviser?”35 Who gave the Lord somethingwhich the Lord must pay back?36 Everything is from him and by him and for him.Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

Romans 11

1 I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.2 God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.6 But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.7 What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:8 according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.

11 I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.12 Now if their fall, is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?13 But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.15 For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?16 And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;18 glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.19 Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.20 Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:21 for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.23 And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.24 For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?25 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;26 and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.

28 As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.29 For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.30 For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,31 even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.32 For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?35 or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?36 For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.