God’s promises for Israel - Session 5.3
Christian remnant among the Jews and Israel - three

In many verses of Scripture Israel is described as trees: the vine, the fig tree, and the olive tree. See this article. Concluding, the vine is a symbol of Israel’s mainly Old Testament spiritual privileges, the fig-tree is a New Testament symbol of Israel’s national or land privileges, and the olive tree is a symbol of Israel’s religious privileges. Scripture speak of two olive trees, de good one (Israel) and the wild one (Gentiles). There is much more to say about the tree metaphors, but that is a large study in itself.

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Romans 11:17-24 reads ¹⁷If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild

shoot, have been

Reveal Answer

in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ²¹For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ²²Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

The Gentiles were grafted in and should never have an arrogant attitude towards the Jews.

The example Paul uses here to explain the relationship between the Israelites and the Gentiles is grafting. Grafting takes two kind of plants and encourages them to fuse together into one. One would assume that the roots and majority of one plant are used while just a few branches are added from another plant. Who is the olive tree and who is the wild olive tree here? The olive tree represents Israel, who had been cultivated by God for some time. The Gentiles are the wild olive tree. God broke off some branches, or most Israelites, because of their unbelief and fused the Gentiles to the plant. This new plant is the church, which historically came out of Israel, was started by Israelites, has an Israelite (Jesus) as its leader, and uses Scriptures written by Israelites, especially the Old Testament, which is completely Jewish.

Paul admonishes the Gentiles that instead of becoming arrogant and assuming a superior attitude, they should be grateful for the contributions that Israelites made (even though now most reject). They should recognize that the root from which their nourishment comes was the original plant, the Jews. Again, right now we don’t have a lot of contact with Jews. But at that time, they did. There was obviously some friction between the two groups. Historically, Jews looked down on Gentiles, but Paul encourages the Gentiles not to act the same way towards the Jews. Practical application number 1 is to be humble and grateful for our position as part of the tree. An adopted son has the same rights and privileges of the biological son, but will still do well to remember his humble beginnings and the kindness of his adopted parents to give him these same rights and privileges. Becoming arrogant and looking down on a biological son who may wander away in rebellion wouldn’t go over well.
Practical application number 2 is that we should be careful and alert to keep on persevering in faith. If God is severe/just enough to punish the natural plant/biological son who turns from Him, then he is severe/just enough to punish the wild plant/adopted son who turns from Him. You see that both the Jews and Gentiles are actually treated the same way without any favoritism. Both will be forgiven if they are faithful and both will be cast off if they rebel against God. See John 15:6. Neither side should think that they are superior.

Q34 Can you begin to explain the process of grafting? Try to go beyond the bio-technical process done by the gardener in a vineyard.

Q35 How do these parts of Scripture influence your attitude towards Jews?