M r 1-3. The majority of Israel rejected God.
s 4-6. A remnant reserved, according to God's election.
s 7-. The remnant obtained what the nation lost.
r -7-10. Fate of majority. God hardened them.
Romans 11)
1 I say then, Did God thrust aside His people? God forbid. For I indeed am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (He was a Roman citizen, but he was an Israelite. See Acts 9:15, crown of great commission. Don't disregard your heritage)
2 God has not cast away His people which He foreknew. Know you not what the scripture says in Elijah? (i.e. in the section which gives Elijah's history. Cp Mark 12:26. Luke 20:37) how he makes intercession (see 8:27) to God against Israel saying,
3 "Lord, they killed Your prophets (Jezebel killed a bunch), and overthrew Your altars (see Acts 15:16); and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
4 But what says the Divine response to him? "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men (God's elect, no gender in this. Hasn't come to pass yet), who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." (They are not confused, they do not worship the false Messiah. Quoted from 1 Kings 10-18)
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election (see 9:11) of grace. (See 1:5. God's elect pass truth down all though the years, there have been those that were teachers and knew the actual God's Word and understood basic primary principles. Some have known that there is more to God's Word then that is being taught.)
6 And if by grace, then is it no longer of works: otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it be of works, then it is no longer grace: otherwise work is no long work. (Elect and free-will, couldn't cut it by law or otherwise.)
7 What then? Israel not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election obtained it,
and the rest were hardened. (They asked for it, see 2 Cor. 11)
8 (According as it is written, "God gave them the spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;") to this day. (Quoted from Isa. 29:10. See also Isa. 66:1-4. Deut. 29:45. Nothing you can do about it. Example - watch people at airports, do they really know what's going on or where they are going? They were about to enter promised land in Moses' time, as we are about to today.)
9 And David said, "Let their table (a metaphor for material prosperity) be made for a snare (trigger, see Ps. 69:21-28), and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them: (They will worship antichrist at 6th trump thinking he is Christ.)
10 Let their eyes be darkened (see 1:21), that they may not see, and bow down their back always." (Quoted from Ps. 69:22)
L T¹ 11-16. Israel provoke to jealousy. T² 17-24. The wild olive graft. T³ 25-32. The hardening of Israel.
T¹ t 11. Salvation to Gentiles provokes Israel to jealousy.
u 12. Benefit to world through Israel's fall. Greater benefit will come from their fullness.
t 13,14. Paul's apostleship provokes Israel to jealousy.
u 15,16. Benefit through Israel's rejection. Greater benefit will be throughtheir restoration.
11 I say then, Did they not stumbled in order that they might fall? God forbid: but rather by their fall salvation is come to the nations, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the nations; how much more their fullness? (Through Christ nations [Gentiles] receive salvation also.)
13 For I speak to you nations, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the nations, I glorify my ministry: (Paul taught on 3 levels. See acts 9:15)
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 (see Acts 27:22 and cp. Ex. 32:11) of them be the reconciling of the world (bring them back to the truth), what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Compare the parable of the prodigal son.)
16 For if the first-fruit be holy (see 8:23), the lump (see 9:21) also is holy: and if the root be holy, the branches also are. (Its all one family. See Num. 15:20)
T² v 17,18. The wild olive graft, not to boast.
w 19,20. The wild olive to fear.
w 21,22. Reason for fear.
v 23,24. The reason for not boasting.
17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree (the oleaster which bears no fruit. Symbolical of Gentile nations), was grafted in among them, and with them are partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (el-ah'-yah - Tree of life, Christ)
18 Boast not against the branches (natural seed). But if you boast (don't become a holy Joe, or you will cut off), you bear not the root, but the root you. (God's Word feeds from the root.)
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off (they didn't accept Messiah), and you stand by faith. Be not arrogant, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches (according to nature), take heed lest He neither spare you.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, cutting off; but on you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. (If you act up and He will cut you off.)
23 And they also, if they continue not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the wild olive tree which is so by nature, and were 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? (It is only in the kingdom of grace that such a process, thus contrary to nature, can be successful. Salvation is open to whomsoever will believe.)
T³ U W x 25-. Hardening of Israel.
y -25. The fullness of the Gentiles.
X 26,27. The salvation of Israel, the end.
V 28-. The Gospel standpoint. Israel enemies.
V -28,29. The election standpoint. Israel beloved.
U W y 30. Mercy to the nations. The result.
x 31. Disobedience of Israel, the means.
X 32. Mercy upon all, the end.
25 For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this secret, in order that you should not be wise in your own conceits; that hardness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fullness of the Gentiles (= nations) be come in. (That is, the fullness of times when the full number of Acts 15:17 is completed. End time events when you are delivered up. Cp. Luke 21:22-24. Isa. 59:20. Blindness in part is upon Israel, until every single person has had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.)
26 And so all Israel shall be saved (at the end of millennium): as it is written, "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:" (The Deliverer is the Lord Jesus Christ of course.)
27 "For this is the covenant with Me to them, when I shall take away their sins." (When you repent. This is a combined quotation from Isa. 59:20,21 and 27:9)
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies on account your sakes:
but as concerning the election (the 7 thousand who do not bow to Baal/Satan), they are beloved on account of the father's sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are not to be repented of. (God will never take a gift away. God is not One to change His mind. Once He gives you a gift, it's yours. You may turn away from Him; however, He will never turn away from you. If you turn away from Him, you may expect your gift to be diminished. He expects you to use your gift that He has given you to produce fruit for Him.)
30 For as you at one time disobeyed God, yet have now obtained mercy (unmerited favor. After the Crucifixion, open to everyone) through their disobedience: (The disobedient children written of in God's Word are examples that bring some to see the light.)
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (Unmerited favor)
32 For God shut up them all in unbelief, that He might pity all. (God does not play favorites. He even scattered some of His children that all could find mercy through His Son Jesus Christ.)
H Y 33-. The depth of the riches.
Z z -33-. Wisdom.
a -33-. Knowledge.
A -33-. His judgments unsearchable.
A -33. His ways untraceable.
Z a 34-. Knowledge.
z -34. His counselor [wisdom].
Y 35. Who has given Him riches.
33 O the depth of the riches (see 2:4)
both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
how inscrutable are His judgments, and
His ways untraceable! (Do you want wisdom and knowledge? Work for both by studying His Word. Father's judgments and ways are not to be questioned by man.)
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? (No one!)
or who became His fellow-counselor?
35 Or who gave first to Him, and it shall be repaid to Him? (God always repays, evens things out. Luke 14:14. 1 Thess. 3:9. 2 Thess. 1:6. Heb. 10:30)
36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Your Father is the One that controls everything. If things aren't going well in you life, take inventory of your relationship with Him. If you work for God and please Him, the gifts and blessings will follow.)