Kindness • Romans 11:11-24
By Laura Lee Leathers
The shortest, and also the middle, chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117. It reads, “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us. And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the Lord” (NKJV)!
The word for kindness (other translations use “lovingkindness,” “mercy,” or “everlasting kindness”) is the Hebrew word “Hesed.” The article, “What is the Kindness of God?” at Got Questions, answers it this way: “Kindness is an attribute of God’s nature and personality associated with His compassion, generosity, mercy, favor, goodness, and love…Scripture’s most brilliant unveiling of the kindness of God is seen in His actions toward undeserving sinners like us” (Titus 3:3-7).
Last week we looked at Israel’s need for the Gospel and their rejection. This week, Paul addresses the fact that God has not abandoned Israel but will fulfill His purposes for the nation. He starts chapter 11 with the question, “Has God cast away His people” (v. 1)? His answer, “Absolutely not.”
There are five witnesses Paul cites that show God’s future for the Jews. The witnesses are Paul himself (11:1), the prophet Elijah (11:2-10), the Gentiles (11:1-15), the Patriarchs (11:16-24), and, lastly, God Himself (11:25-36) (Be Right by Warren Wiersbe*).
Rejection (Rom. 11:11-16 CSB)
Paul opens this section with another question: Have the Jews stumbled so far as to fall? No! Jesus was a stumbling block to the Jews. They couldn’t see, nor accept Him as the Son of God. Their rejection opened the door for the Gentiles to hear the Gospel. When they heard, many repented and believed. It made the Jews jealous.
The Jews failed to see what the Gentiles found: spiritual richness, the glorious riches found in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:7, 2:7, 3:16). Paul wonders “what would happen when the Jewish people themselves embraced Christ and experienced the fullness of life found in Him” (Lifeway Pupil, page 84).
Paul, a Jew and an apostle to the Gentiles, wasn’t writing out of selfish pride regarding his ministry. Instead, he hoped to foster jealousy among the Jewish people. Envy would lead them to surrender to Christ.
Next, Paul mentions “firstfruits,” a stewardship principle from the Old Testament (Num. 15:17-21). After the grain harvest, the first batch of dough was set apart to God. This made the entire batch holy to God. He then mentions a tree and its root. Because the root is holy, the branches would be as well.
Grafted (Rom. 11:17-22)
Continuing the imagery of an olive tree, the symbol of the nation of Israel (Jer. 11:16-17; Hosea 14:4-6), Paul elaborates on Israel’s place in God’s plan. The Jews were the cultivated olive tree. The Gentiles, referred to as the wild olive branch, were grafted into the olive tree.
Salvation began in the root. “The grafted branch flourished because it enjoyed the privilege of receiving the same kind of nourishment that enriched the cultivated olive tree” (Lifeway Pupil page 86).
However, the Gentiles were not to boast that they were better than the Jews or that God loved them more. Everyone must come through Jesus to be saved; there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles.
Branches are broken off because of their unbelief. It’s out of God’s kindness and severity that individuals will be judged. Jews and Gentiles were to respond humbly to God’s kindness.
Restoration (Rom. 11:23-24)
Even though the branches were removed, their restoration depended on their willingness to return to Him. Believing Jews would be grafted in by God’s grace.
“No matter how far Israel may stray from the truth of God, the roots are still good. God is still the ‘God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ (Matt. 22:23; Ex. 3:6). He will keep His promises to these patriarchs. This means that the olive tree will flourish again” (Be Right, Wiersbe)!
In verse 24, Paul returns to the Gentiles and the image of a tree. Together, Jews and Gentiles who have been grafted together become stronger, more productive.
At the end of the chapter, Paul ends with “A Hymn of Praise” (vs. 33-36). “For from him and through Him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (v. 36).
*Be Right, How to Be Right with God, Yourself, and Others, by Warren W. Wiersbe (1977), pages 124-134.
Leathers is a member of First Baptist Church, Lexington.
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