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And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God works contrary to the natural ways of man to produce fruit which will bring glory only to Him.<\/p>\n \u201cBranches<\/span>\u201d is from klados<\/em><\/span>, which refers to a branch that has been broken off from a tree or bush.<\/p>\n The verb translated \u201cbroken off<\/span>\u201d is ekkla\u014d<\/em><\/span>, made up of ek<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cout\u201d and kla\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto break.\u201d We see here another of Paul\u2019s play on words between klados<\/em> <\/span>and ekkla\u014d<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n The words \u201ca partaker with them<\/span>\u201d are from the Greek verb sugkoin\u014dnos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether with\u201d and koin\u014dnos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca partner.\u201d Hence, this word refers to \u201cone who shares things in common with others.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u201ccontrary to nature.<\/span>\u201d That\u2019s the way God does things.<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely <\/span>and<\/em> of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.<\/span> (Jeremiah 11:16<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n This refers to the Jews who rejected the Messiah when He first came. Paul then says that \u201cyou<\/span>,\u201d referring to individual 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s offer.<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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