Romans 11

Romans 11 explains that God has not completely rejected Israel, even though many Israelites rejected Christ. Paul shows that there is still a faithful remnant chosen by grace, just as in Elijah’s time. Israel’s unbelief opened the way for the gospel to go to the Gentiles, but Gentile believers must not become proud. Jews and Gentiles are saved only by faith and mercy. Paul also shows that God’s plan is wise and deep, and that His purpose is to show mercy to all who respond to Him.

Romans 11:1 (NKJV)
1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Paul asks whether God has completely rejected Israel, and he answers, “Certainly not!” Paul himself is proof, because he was an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin and yet believed in Christ. This shows that even though Israel as a nation largely rejected Jesus and lost its special position because of unbelief, God was still saving individual Jews who came to Christ. God’s promises had not failed, but His true people are now made up of all who believe, both Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 11:2-5 (NKJV)
2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Paul uses the story of Elijah to show that God always has a faithful remnant. Elijah thought he was the only faithful person left, but God told him there were still seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal. In the same way, in Paul’s time, many Israelites rejected Christ, but not all. God had preserved a remnant by grace. This means salvation is not based on national privilege or human works, but on God’s grace received by faith.

Romans 11:6 (NKJV)
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Paul makes the difference between grace and works very clear. If salvation is by grace, then it cannot be earned by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. A gift cannot be called a gift if someone must work to deserve it. Israel’s mistake was trying to stand before God by law, heritage, and works, but Paul shows that God’s people are chosen and saved by grace. This agrees with Ephesians 2:8-9, which says we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so no one can boast.

Romans 11:7-12 (NKJV)
7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
9 And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always.”
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

Paul explains that Israel as a whole did not obtain righteousness because they sought it the wrong way, but the faithful remnant received it by grace. The rest became hardened because they rejected God’s truth. Paul quotes Scripture to show that this blindness was already foretold. But Israel’s stumbling was not meant to be final. Through their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, and this was meant to provoke Israel to jealousy and lead some back to God. If Israel’s failure brought blessing to the Gentiles, then their turning back to God would bring even greater blessing.

Romans 11:13-15 (NKJV)
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Paul speaks directly to the Gentiles and explains his ministry. As the apostle to the Gentiles, he wanted the gospel to bless them, but he also hoped that Jewish people would see God’s mercy among the Gentiles and be stirred to seek Christ. Paul’s desire was to save some of his own people. Their rejection of the gospel helped open the way for the Gentiles, but whenever Jews accept Christ, it is like “life from the dead”—a powerful picture of spiritual renewal and restoration.

Romans 11:16-18 (NKJV)
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 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,
18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Paul uses the picture of an olive tree. The root represents the promises and covenant blessings given through the fathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Some Jewish branches were broken off because of unbelief, and Gentiles, like wild olive branches, were grafted in by faith. This means Gentiles now share in the blessings of God’s people. But Paul warns them not to boast against the Jews, because the Gentiles do not support the root; the root supports them. They are included by grace, not because they are better.

Romans 11:19-24 (NKJV)
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Anticipating an argument from prideful Gentiles, Paul acknowledges that they might claim they were grafted in because the Jews were unfaithful.
Paul confirms this but cautions them to remain humble and reverent. It was indeed unbelief that led to the Jews being broken off, and it is only by faith that the Gentiles stand—thus, they should be wary of arrogance.
He warns the Gentiles that if God did not hesitate to remove unfaithful Israelites, He would similarly not hesitate to remove unfaithful Gentiles.
Paul reflects on the dual aspects of God’s character—His severity in judgment and His goodness in grace. Gentiles are reminded to continue in faith and obedience to benefit from God’s goodness, lest they face similar judgment as unfaithful Israel.
Conversely, Paul holds out hope that Jews who do not persist in unbelief can be re-grafted into their own olive tree, emphasizing God’s power and willingness to restore them.
He argues that if it was possible for Gentiles, who were like wild olive branches, to be grafted into the cultivated olive tree of Israel, it is certainly possible—and indeed more natural—for the original Jewish branches to be re-grafted.

Romans 11:25 (NKJV)
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Paul does not want the Gentile believers to become proud or think they have replaced Israel in a boastful way, so he explains a “mystery.” In the Bible, a mystery is not something strange or impossible to understand, but a truth in God’s plan that was once hidden and is now being revealed through the gospel. The mystery here is that Israel’s blindness is only “in part,” meaning not all Jews rejected Christ, and God has not totally or permanently cast them away. A remnant of Israel still believes, and God is still able to graft Jewish believers back in if they do not continue in unbelief (Romans 11:23). This partial blindness also served a purpose in God’s plan, because through Israel’s rejection of the gospel, salvation was preached more widely to the Gentiles. The “fullness of the Gentiles” means the full gathering of Gentile believers whom God is calling through the gospel, as the message goes into all the world before the end, as seen also in Revelation 14:6-12 with the Three Angels’ Messages. This does not mean Gentiles form a separate people from Israel, but that Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ are brought together into one spiritual Israel, the true people of God by faith. Therefore, the mystery is God’s wise plan: Israel’s partial hardening opened the door for the Gentiles, the mercy shown to the Gentiles is meant to provoke Israel to jealousy, and in the end God’s purpose is to gather all true believers—Jew and Gentile—into Christ.

Romans 11:26-27 (NKJV)
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

Paul says “all Israel will be saved,” referring to God’s true Israel—those who belong to Him through faith in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus is the Deliverer who came through Israel and began the work of turning away ungodliness by calling people to repentance and forgiveness. This work continues through His Spirit in believers and will be fully completed at His second coming, when sin and ungodliness are finally removed. The covenant promise, “when I take away their sins,” points to the New Covenant in Christ, where forgiveness is given to all who receive Him. Galatians 3:29 supports this by saying that those who are Christ’s are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 11:28-31 (NKJV)
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,
31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

Paul explains that many Israelites were enemies of the gospel because they rejected Christ, yet they were still beloved because of God’s promises to the fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable, meaning He does not forget His promises or change His faithful purpose. The Gentiles were once disobedient but received mercy when Israel rejected the gospel. In the same way, Israel can also receive mercy when they see God’s grace working among the Gentiles. God’s plan is to show mercy to both Jews and Gentiles through Christ.

Romans 11:32-33 (NKJV)
32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Paul shows that both Jews and Gentiles have been guilty of disobedience, so no group can boast over the other. All need mercy, and God’s desire is to show mercy to all who receive it. When Paul sees the wisdom of God’s plan—using Israel’s fall to bless the Gentiles and using Gentile mercy to reach Israel—he breaks out in praise. God’s wisdom and knowledge are deeper than human understanding, and His ways are beyond our full ability to explain.

Romans 11:34-36 (NKJV)
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Paul ends the chapter by exalting God’s greatness. No one fully knows God’s mind, no one can advise Him, and no one has given anything to Him that He must repay. God is the source of all things, all things exist through Him, and all things are ultimately for His glory. This reminds believers to be humble before God’s wisdom and to give Him praise forever.