Romans 11:11-14 (WEL) So I ask, “Have they stumbled only to fall permanently?” Absolutely not! On the contrary, through their trespass, salvation [has come] to the Gentiles to provoke [the Jews] to envy. 12 Now if their trespass [means spiritual] riches for the world and their loss [means] riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? 13 Now I speak to you Gentiles, considering I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I hold my ministry in honor. 14 If somehow, I can provoke to jealousy my own people and might save some of them.
V11 So I ask, “Have they stumbled only to fall permanently?” Absolutely not! On the contrary, through their trespass, salvation [has come] to the Gentiles to provoke [the Jews] to envy.
The word they refers to Israel. Ethnic Israel has not fallen permanently. Those who believe in Replacement Theology (Supersessionism) do believe that. They believe individual Jews can be saved but there is no future for the nation.
Paul asks a rhetorical question about Israel. The majority of Israel refused to believe and trust in God. So, did God’s plan fail because these people refused to believe? Paul answers, “Absolutely not.” These Jews trespassed, that is, went into a lifestyle forbidden to them. Because the majority of Israel rejected Jesus, the Messiah, someone might think that God failed and that there is no hope for any Jew to be saved. Those Jews who refused to accept Jesus now see God’s blessings on the Gentiles who do believe and trust in Jesus for salvation. This has a purpose to make Israel jealous which, hopefully, will lead them to believe and trust in Jesus.
The Greek word for fall permanently/fail is (G2948) πίπτω píptō, which means (Thayer) to fail of participating in, miss a share in, the Messianic salvation, Romans 11:11 and Hebrews 4:11.”
V12 Now if their trespass [means spiritual] riches for the world and their loss [means] riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?
Those Jews who refused Jesus means they loss the kingdom temporarily, not permanently as some teach. Compare Zechariah 14, which reveals clearly the establishment of a kingdom in Israel, ruled from Jerusalem, and lived in by mainly those who are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We who are Gentiles rejoice in the spiritual riches given us by God (Ephesians 1:3). But how the world will rejoice when the Jews do believe and trust in Jesus (Psalm 118:26, Matthew 23:39, and Romans 11:26).
One of the main riches is the Jew, Jesus, will be king of kings and lord of lords. There can hardly be imagined any greater blessing. He is the perfect king; His kingdom will have the perfect laws, lifestyle, culture, etc.
V13 Now I speak to you Gentiles, considering I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I hold my ministry in honor.
Paul takes an aside to address the Gentiles. He is not dismissing the Gentiles by thinking the Jews to be better, for he states that he is the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
V14 If somehow, I can provoke to jealousy my own people and might save some of them.
In doing so, he hopes and prays for his brethren, the Jews, will become jealous and themselves believe and trust in Jesus, the Messiah.
We learn:
- Even though the majority of Israel refused to believe is not the rejection of Israel.
- Israel has a future: they will be saved; they will have a kingdom under the kingship of their Jewish Messiah—Jesus; and all the riches of that blessing, which will, in turn, bless the world.
Questions:
- Do you pray for Israel to be saved?
- Do you thank God for your salvation?