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Author: Will

Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Will

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you should think yourselves to be wise, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Truth to Learn

God has secrets (mysteries) and He reveals them to whomever He wishes at a time of His own choosing. We who know the secret of the gospel message need to share it freely with others.

Behind the Words

The word translated “ignorant” is the Greek word agnoein. It is a compound word made up of a, meaning “not” or “without” and the infinitive form of noeō, meaning “to perceive, to understand, or to know.” So agnoein refers to a lack of knowledge or understanding.

“Mystery” is a transliteration of musterion. This word is derived either from muō, meaning “shut,” like a mouth that is shut, or it is from mueō, which means “to initiate or to learn a secret.” So, musterion refers to information that has been kept a secret, but which is now being revealed.

The word translated “blindness” is the Greek word pōrōsis, which refers to something that has become hardened or petrified. It is often used to refer to physical blindness, but here it refers to the insensitivity of perception or spiritual blindness.

“In part” is from the Greek word meros, which means “a division, a share, or a portion.”

The word “fullness” is from plērōma, which refers to “completeness or fullness.”

Meaning Explained

This verse starts off with a classic Paul-ism; “For I do not want you to be ignorant.” What he means is, “You currently are ignorant of something and I am going to inform you so that you will no longer be ignorant.” Ignorance has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence or ability to think, it simply refers to a lack of knowledge. Invariably, when Paul uses this expression, he includes the familiar adelphoi or “brothers,” probably to soften the blow of telling them that they are ignorant.

What is it that these Roman Christians are ignorant of? It is “this mystery.” This thing previously unknown is that blindness has happened to part of Israel. So the mystery that Paul is revealing is that part of Israel (a large part) has become mentally hardened so as not to perceive the truth of the gospel until the fullness (or completion) of the Gentiles has come in.

What Paul is telling us is that the sovereign hand of God has prevented many of the Jews from believing in the Messiah during His first advent, so that the gospel message could be spread abroad to the Gentile nations. At some point in the future (very near, perhaps) all of the elect Gentiles will have been gathered in by God and He will once again turn to the Jews. This will happen during Daniel’s 70^th week, the time of the Tribulation.

Application

Do you recall what the Great Commission says? Go into the whole world and preach the gospel. Why? We need to share the gospel message so that all of the Gentile nations will have an opportunity to hear it, to believe it, and be saved. It is our responsibility to spread the gospel. If we are not witnessing to the unsaved, we are not spreading the gospel.

Are you fulfilling your commission from God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:24 – Comfort or Zeal?

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Will

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Truth to Learn

Time is running out to show the fervency of our faith.

Behind the Words

The words “nature” and “natural” are from the Greek word phusis, which is derived from the verb phuō, meaning “to bring forth,” that is, “to give birth.” Phusis refers to the order of things which God has put in place in the natural world.

Meaning Explained

This verse is a summary statement of what Paul has been saying for the past seven verses. I don’t think I could express the meaning of this verse any better than Albert Barnes has in his Notes on the New Testament. Here’s what he said:

The meaning of this whole verse may be thus expressed; “If God had mercy on the Gentiles, who were outcasts from his favor, shall he not much rather on those who were so long his people, to whom had been given the promises, and the covenants, and the Law, whose ancestors had been so many of them his friends, and among whom the Messiah was born?” In some respects, there are facilities among the Jews for their conversion, which had not existed among the Gentiles. They worship one God; they admit the authority of revelation; they have the Scriptures of the Old Testament; they expect a Messiah; and they have a habit of professed reverence for the will of God.

There was a time when the fervency and passion for God among the Christian Church was as great as that of the Jewish people. However, in the past century the Christian Church has become comfortable, satisfied, and complacent. I think God’s message to the church in Laodicea written in the 3^rd chapter of the book of The Revelation can be applied to many of our churches today. Here’s what He says:

And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write, “These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked’” (Revelation 3:14-17)

The day is coming, and now is, in which those who profess to be God’s people will be more concerned with earthly pleasures than with a close personal relationship with the God of all creation. We are more focused on exercising our own will than on seeking and submitting to God’s will for our lives.

Application

Are you comfortable in your Christian faith today? Are you satisfied with where you are in your walk with God? If so, I urge you to pray that God would light a fire of fervency in your spirit and create in you a searing zeal for serving Him in whatever manner He desires! Submit to Him and serve Him with all your heart. Please, I beg of you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant

Posted on September 3, 2018 by Will

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Truth to Learn

The Jews will return to faith in Jehovah and His Messiah.

Behind the Words

The word translated “continue” in both the previous verse and the current verse is epimenō. This is a compound word made up of epi, meaning “over, upon, or at” and menō, which means “to remain or to stay.” Therefore, this word means “to continue to remain at a particular place or condition.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about God’s goodness and His severity (cut-off-ness). His goodness has been shown to the Gentile nations because the gospel message has been delivered to us. His severity is shown in the cutting-off of the Jews because of their unbelief. He then warned us that if the Gentile nations don’t remain in His goodness, they will also be cut off.

Let me say once again that Paul’s metaphor of the branches and the olive tree is referring to Jews as individuals and Gentiles as individuals or individual nations. If the metaphorical reference to the pruned branches referred to the Jewish nation as a whole, then he would be saying that God has rejected all Jews and none of them could be saved today. Also remember that the metaphorical comparison is between Jews and Gentiles, not Jews and Christians. Therefore, do not try to read into this that Paul is warning that we can lose our salvation if we don’t continue in God’s goodness.

In the previous verse Paul warned us Gentiles that as a people we need to remain in a condition of belief or we as a people will be cut off. Incidentally, this is a threat which, based on current national and world conditions (not remaining in a state of belief as a people), could be realized any day now. This makes me think of:

But answering, He said to them, "When it is evening you say, fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, foul weather today, for the sky is red and overcast. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2, 3)

Paul now tells us that if the Jews do not remain in a state of unbelief, that is, if Jewish people finally recognize their Messiah, they will be grafted back in to a condition of experiencing God’s goodness instead of His severity. But not all of the Jewish people will be grafted in, only a small group. This group of Jews is referred to by Isaiah as the “remnant.”

The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return; destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. (Isaiah 10:21-22)

Application

Let us not be like the Pharisees! Let us discern the signs of the times! There are many indications that the return of Christ is very near. In light of this knowledge, we should be diligent in faithful service to God. We should be proclaiming the gospel message to everyone around us. Is that how you’re living your life right now? Is your focus on yourself or God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:22 – Goodness and Severity

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Will

Therefore consider the kindness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, kindness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Truth to Learn

God demonstrates both His goodness and His severity!

Behind the Words

“Kindness” is translated from the Greek word chrēstotēs, which is based on the noun chrēstos, meaning “employed” or “useful.” Chrēstotēs refers to “goodness, kindness, usefulness, or moral excellence.” It is part of the natural character of God’s being.

In light of the metaphor that Paul has been using, that of an olive tree with branches being cut-off and others being grafted in, his use of the word “severity” here is quite intriguing. This is translated from the Greek word apotomia, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and a form of temnō, meaning “to cut.” So, you see, even though it is commonly translated as “severity” it literally means “cut-off-ness.” This is also part of God’s character and an apt description of Him, given the metaphor of olive branch cutting and engrafting.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just issued a warning to us Gentiles not to be arrogant regarding the fact that God cut-off the Jews as a people and grafted us in. He is now showing two of the qualities of God; on the one hand, kindness, and on the other hand, severity. We all want to think of God’s kindness and the fact that “God is love,” but we tend to overlook His severity and the fact that He is holy (perfectly righteous and without sin). His holiness also means that He must judge sin and separate the sinner from Himself. That’s very severe!

Keep in mind that Paul is portraying God as the holy gardener. A good gardener knows that useless and dying branches must be cut off and other branches engrafted if the tree is going to continue to flourish. In a typical olive grove, trees are often hundreds of years old due to proper cutting (severity) and careful in-grafting (goodness).

Let me pause to clarify who Paul is talking to in these verses. Beginning back in verse seventeen, the use of the second person personal pronoun “you” is “you singular,” not “you plural.” In the King James Version you will notice the use of “thee” or “thou,” not “you.” Therefore, some might interpret this part of Romans eleven as a warning that a person can lose his or her salvation if he or she stops believing. However, notice that throughout this passage Paul is contrasting Jews and Gentiles, not believers and unbelievers. In the Bible, individual nations are often referred to in the second person singular. Therefore, these warnings are to individual Gentiles or individual Gentile nations, not individual believers.

Paul is telling us that God has shown severity (cut-off-ness) to those who have fallen (Jews, plural, who refused to believe), but He has shown kindness to individual Gentiles or Gentile nations. This goodness is in the form of “the fatness of the root” as he told us in verse seventeen. Paul now restates his warning to the Gentile nations that if we don’t continue in His goodness, we as a people or a nation, will also be cut-off.

Application

There are many nations today that receive the blessing of God’s goodness, but there is coming a day when the church will be removed and the Gentile nations will receive God’s severity (cut-off-ness) because of their lack of belief. They will be cut-off, and God will once again engraft the Jewish people.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:21 – The Almighty Gardner

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Will

For if God did not spare the natural branches, Neither will He spare you.

Truth to Learn

God rejected the Jewish people because they refused to believe that Jesus was their Messiah. Since He was willing to do this, He is just as willing to reject Gentiles in the future and deal exclusively with the Jews once again.

Behind the Words

“If” is translated from the conditional particle ei. When used as it is in this verse, it indicates a conditional statement of the first class. In the New Testament there are three classes of conditional statements. The first class condition assumes that the “if clause” is true, the second class condition assumes that the “if clause” is false, and the third class condition makes no assumption about the “if clause.” Therefore, in a first class conditional statement some translators use the word “since,” although it is not required.

The word translated “spare” is pheidomai, which means “to abstain or to treat leniently.”

The second half of this verse starts off with mēpōs in the Greek text. This word is made up of mē, a conditional negative particle and pōs, meaning “somehow, anyhow, in any way, or in some way or other.” Mēpōs is often translated as “lest by any means” or “lest perhaps.” Here it is immediately followed by the Greek word oude, meaning “also not” or “neither.”

The second occurrence of “spare” is again the word pheidomai. In some Greek manuscripts it is expressed in the subjunctive mood, indicating what might possibly or will probably happen. However, the best Greek texts express it in the future tense, indicating action that will happen.

Meaning Explained

The point that Paul is making is that if God did not spare the natural branches, the Jews, but rejected them as a people, thus turning to the Gentiles and grafting them in, then we should not be arrogant about this. Instead, we should consider our position as God’s chosen ones with reverential fear knowing that God is just as able to reject the Gentiles and turn back to the Jews.

In fact, I believe that this is exactly what God is going to do. If you study Daniel 9:25-29 you will learn about the 70 weeks of years that God has decreed for the Jews. The first 69 weeks cover the time from the decree to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem up to the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. Between the 69^th and 70^th weeks, however, there is a pause, which is where God turns to the Gentiles. This is the church age that we are living in right now. Just before the 70^th week begins, God will rapture the church, removing them from the earth, and will once again deal with the Jews. This ushers in Daniel’s 70^th week, the seven year period called The Tribulation.

During this seven year period, God’s focus will once again be on the Jews, not the Gentiles. In other words, during the tribulation God will reject the Gentile world. That is, He will break them off as branches. At the same time, he will deal directly with the Jewish nation once more, a remnant of them will believe, and He will graft them back into the holy root stock.

Take special note of the fact that this series of verses is not talking about rejecting believers (causing them to lose their salvation). He is talking about rejecting the unbelievers.

Application

God does as He pleases, not as we want Him to do. We need to be humble and in awe of Him. He is Almighty God and we are but His chosen children. Give Him thanks and praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:20 – Faith and Fear

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Will

Well said. In unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but fear.

Truth to Learn

Salvation should not produce pride, but reverential fear.

Behind the Words

“Well said” is translated from the Greek word kalōs, meaning “well, justly, or aptly.” It is as if Paul is agreeing with this objection. We could paraphrase this as “Very well then.”

The words translated “unbelief” and “faith” in this verse are closely related. The word translated “unbelief” is apistia, which is a compound word made up of a, meaning “not or without” and a form of pistis, meaning “faith or belief.” It is based on the verb peithō, meaning “to persuade or to win over.” Hence, pistis is the condition of having been convinced of a truth so that the person now believes the truth. The word translated “faith” is pistis. So you see Paul is making a contrast between the apistia (lack of faith) and pistis (having faith).

“Stand” is from histēmi, meaning “to stand upright, to stand in place, or to stand firm.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which indicates a past completed action with an ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the ongoing effect. In other words, in the past we stood because of faith and, as a result, we are in an ongoing condition of standing because of faith.

The word translated “high-minded” is the Greek word, hupsēlophronō, which is a compound word made up of hupselos, meaning “high, in place or character” and a form of phroneō, meaning “to think” or “to be of a certain mind.” In today’s English it means “haughty, arrogant, or puffed up.”

Meaning Explained

Paul starts off this verse with “Well said.” It is as if Paul is agreeing with the objection expressed in the previous verse. He goes on to state the part that he does agree with, and then he will give a word of caution about this type of thinking.

Paul agrees that the Jews were rejected for not believing and that we stand because we believe. But he then gives this warning, “Do not be high-minded, but fear.” His warning is that we should not become arrogant, thinking that we are something special because God chose to graft us into the olive tree; instead, we should be filled with reverential fear. Paul will explain why in the next verse.

Because we believe that we are sinners and that Jesus Christ gave his perfect, sinless life on our behalf, God has declared us to be as righteous as Christ. Through this righteousness we are seen by God as sinless, He has adopted us as His sons and daughters, and we are guaranteed eternal life instead of eternal damnation in hell, which is what we deserve because of our sinfulness. We would not have believed these truths and we would not be partakers of His holiness had the Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah when He offered Himself to them.

Because of our sin nature, we are prone to believe ourselves something special because of God’s free gift of salvation. And, because others rejected God’s truth, we are prone to believe that they are less than we are.

Application

Let us once again take stock of our own unworthiness and the blessing of God’s grace. Let our gratefulness be shown in giving all we have to and for Him. Let us humble ourselves before our Lord and Master, for He is worthy!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:19 – Pride or Humility

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Will

You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."

Truth to Learn

When we read Scripture we need to receive God’s truth in humility, being careful not to filter it through our pride.

Behind the Words

The words “You will say” are from ereō, meaning “to say or to declare.” It is expressed in the future tense, active voice (action performed by the subject), and indicative mood (action that actually occurs). Paul is not saying “you could say” or “you might say,” rather he is saying “you will say.”

“Might be grafted in” is from the Greek verb egkentridzō, which is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” implying a fixed position and kentridzō, meaning “to make a puncture.” Thus we see that egkentridzō means “to insert by making a puncture or a small opening.” This is precisely the process that is performed when a branch is engrafted to a root stock. The root stock is carefully cut open with a small incision and the branch, after having been sharpened on one end, is inserted into the opening. The verb is expressed here in the passive voice (action done to the subject) and subjunctive mood (implying that the action is possible or probable).

Meaning Explained

Paul is now stating what he expects will be a response from proud Gentiles, so that he can counter it in the following verse. Paul knows the heart of sinful man and is certain that his readers and hearers will react to what he is saying. He knows they will say, “But, the other branches were broken off just so we could be grafted in. It appears that it was God’s purpose to reject those unbelieving Jews so that He could save us Gentiles. Therefore, we must be more important than the Jews; they were taken out of their place and we have been put in.”

This sort of reasoning, however, assumes that God now considers the Gentiles more important than the Jews; otherwise, He wouldn’t have rejected the Jews, would He? This type of reasoning is sinful and selfish. It is, in fact, the very same attitude that the Jews had before they were rejected, believing that they were better than the Gentiles because they were God’s chosen people. In the next verse Paul will give a stern warning about such thinking.

We see this type of thinking today, particularly in Christians who believe they’ve earned their salvation. They are proud of the fact that they believed and have been saved as a result, thinking that they are somehow better than the unsaved because they were smart enough or had faith enough to believe. When we realize that our salvation is totally God’s work, we become aware of the fact that we don’t deserve this salvation and become humbly thankful, giving God ALL THE GLORY!

the twenty-four elders will fall down before the one sitting on the throne and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and they will cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:10-11)

Application

Are you proud of the fact that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? Or are you humbled by the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has chosen you to be His?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:18 – No Proud Branches

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Will

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, notice that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Truth to Learn

We should not boast about ourselves or our position, because it is God who is responsible for who and what we are.

Behind the Words

The word translated “boast” is the Greek word katakauchaomai, which is a compound word made up of kata, meaning “against” and a form of kouchaomai which means “to boast.” Hence, this word means “to boast against.” Webster defines the word “boast” as “To brag, or vaunt one's self; to make an ostentatious display, in speech, of one's own worth, property, or actions.” Katakauchaomai is expressed here in the middle person (indicating action done to oneself), and the imperative mood (indicating a command). It is preceded by the word mē, a conditional negative particle. As we have pointed out previously, word order in Greek is used for emphases. The fact that mē precedes katakauchaomai indicates emphasis on mē. Therefore, we could translate this as “Stop boasting about yourself!” We could paraphrase it as, “Get out of the habit of boasting about yourself against the branches!”

“Support” is from the Greek word bastadzō, which is derived from basis, meaning “foot.” Bastadzō refers to “lifting something up and placing it on a solid footing.” As it is used here, it refers to something that is providing both support and sustenance.

Meaning Explained

Paul is talking metaphorically about an olive tree; a tree which gets its holiness from the root. In the previous verse he talked about the natural branches being broken off and the Gentiles being grafted in. Obviously, the tree represents God’s family. It began with the Jews (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and from this tree came the Messiah, Himself.

Paul will declare in verse twenty that the branches that were broken off were broken off because of unbelief. That is, the Jews were rejected because they did not believe the Messiah when He came. And because of their unbelief, the gospel was subsequently proclaimed to the Gentiles (by the Apostles, who were Jews).

Paul now warns us Gentile believers not to boast against the Jews. What he is saying is, in effect, “Don’t consider yourselves more worthy than the Jews, who were rejected.” The reason he tells us not to boast is because we are not the ones who sustain the root (God), but it is the root that sustains and supports us. You see, we didn’t graft ourselves into the tree, God engrafted us. We were not of the original family of blessing (the Jews), and we have done nothing to make ourselves worthy of being included in their blessings.

Remember that it is God who is the author and finisher of our faith. He chose us, we did not choose Him. He is the one who declared us righteous; we did not earn our righteousness. Without God’s action we are nothing and we are destined for Hell because of our lack of righteousness. We have absolutely nothing to boast about.

Application

Let me ask you, “Have you ever met a proud Christian?” That’s a contradiction of terms, isn’t it?

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift you up in due time, (I Peter 5:6)

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:17 – God’s Holy Fruit

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Will

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

Truth to Learn

God works contrary to the natural ways of man to produce fruit which will bring glory only to Him.

Behind the Words

“Branches” is from klados, which refers to a branch that has been broken off from a tree or bush.

The verb translated “broken off” is ekklaō, made up of ek, meaning “out” and klaō, meaning “to break.” We see here another of Paul’s play on words between klados and ekklaō.

The words “a partaker with them” are from the Greek verb sugkoinōnos, which is made up of sun, meaning “together with” and koinōnos, meaning “a partner.” Hence, this word refers to “one who shares things in common with others.”

Meaning Explained

The illustration here is of a cultivated olive tree into which branches from a wild olive tree were grafted and thus the engrafted branches produced fruit from the nurturing of the roots. In reality, however, a husbandman would not do this. Instead, he would take branches from a fruitful, cultivated olive tree and graft them into a wild, unfruitful tree stock to produce fruit. You see, a wild olive tree produces very little fruit and what it does produce is small and bitter. But a cultivated tree produces a greater quantity and better quality fruit. In nature it is only when the good branches are grafted into the fruitless rootstock that good fruit is produced. But, as Paul will tell us in verse twenty-four, this engrafting is “contrary to nature.” That’s the way God does things.

So why does Paul talk about an olive tree in which the fruitfulness comes from the root and not the branches? It is to show the supernatural quality of holiness. It is not produced in the branches; it is produced in the root, God Himself. Paul says that some of the branches of the holy tree were broken off. This may be a reference to:

The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. (Jeremiah 11:16)

This refers to the Jews who rejected the Messiah when He first came. Paul then says that “you,” referring to the Gentiles, who were of a fruitless, wild olive tree, were grafted in among the remaining branches (the few believing Jews, among whom were the apostles). He points out that the result of the grafting is that the branches, both the natural branches and the engrafted ones, now share in the blessings and holiness of the root.

Paul is emphasizing two things here. The first is that the Gentiles did not attain holiness (fruitfulness) apart from the holy root. And the second thing is that the Gentiles were included in the church only because, and after, the Jews rejected God’s offer.

Application

Thank you, Lord, for grafting me into the holy olive tree. May I produce fruit worthy of the King, from your working in and through me!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:16 – Set-apart by Him

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Will

For if the first-fruit is holy, the dough is also; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Truth to Learn

Like the believing Jews, we are set-apart by God for His use.

Behind the Words

The word “first-fruit” is from the Greek word aparchē, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and a form of archomai, meaning “to begin.” This word refers to that part of something that is taken from the beginning or the first part.

The word translated “dough” is the Greek word phurama, which is the noun form of the verb phuraō, meaning “to break,” or “to dissolve,” or “to knead.” In this case it refers to a mass of dough that has been kneaded in preparation for baking.

“Holy” is from the word hagios, which means “set apart as something special.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has just been telling us that it was because of His rejection of the unbelieving Jews that God turned to the Gentiles. He is now going to show us that although the Jews as a nation were rejected, it was a few believing Jews who were the beginning of the church.

In the Old Testament, the “first-fruit” was the part of the crop that ripened first and was to be offered to God before partaking of the remainder of the crop. It was a way for the Jews to signify that the entire crop came from God. Even though man planted it, God alone caused the seed to germinate, God alone provided the rain and caused the plant to grow, and God alone caused the fruit to form and ripen. This current verse seems to be a reference to Numbers 15:20, 21 which says:

You shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough as a heave offering; as a heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you offer it up. Of the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD a heave offering throughout your generations.

I believe that Paul’s reference in the current verse is to the fact that it was a few Jews who were the first to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. And it was first to the Jews that the glorious message of His resurrection was announced. These Jewish believers were holy. That is, they were “set apart,” set apart from the world of unbelievers and set-apart to God for His use and for His glorification.

If these first few Jews were set-apart by God, so also will the remainder of the church be set-apart. Likewise, Paul refers to the root of an olive tree as being holy which causes the remainder of the tree, the branches, to be holy (set-apart). Paul will now use this metaphor of the olive tree to show us why we are totally dependent on God for His blessing and favor.

Application

Remember what Paul has been teaching us, that we are not the ones responsible for our salvation and the blessings that come from it. God, as we are told in Hebrews 12:2, “is the author and finisher of our faith.” He is the one who caused us to believe; hence, we are not the authors of our faith, He is. We do not cause the plants to grow and produce seed, God does. We are totally dependent on God for all of life and especially for spiritual (eternal) life. This should not make us proud; instead, it should humble us in the presence of Almighty God who chose us.

In God's service, for His glory,