The Natural Grafted Back In Romans 11:24

Paul the apostle asked the people in Rome, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity”, and he continued, “but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” He added, “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.” In chapter eleven and verse twenty-four of Romans, Paul asked the people in Rome about how, “the natural branches” shall “be grafted into their own olive tree?” where we read:

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The verse begins, “For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “if you were cut out of ” or “whether the Gentile believers in Rome were hewn down or hindered away from and out of” “the olive tree which is wild” which means“the oleaster or olive tree that is wild” “by nature” which means “though the means of the natural force, laws and order of nature”, “and were grafted” or “were cut into for the sake of inserting a scion, to inoculate and graft in” “contrary to” which means “from, at and besides” “nature” which means “the natural force, laws and order of nature” “into a good olive tree” which refers to “within a domesticated or improved olive tree”. Paul considered the Gentiles to be “cut from” a “wild olive tree” and “grafted into” the “good” or “domesticated or improved” “olive tree”.

The verse goes on to say, “ … how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? ”. Paul added the words, “how much more” or “to what greater and more noble degree” “shall these” which refers to “will the people in Israel”, “which be the natural branches” or “who are from the natural force, laws and order of nature”, “be grafted into” which means “be cut into for the sake of inserting a scion, to inoculate and graft in” “their own” or “Israel's own” “olive trees” which refers to “the oleaster or olive trees”. Paul questioned since the Gentiles who were of a “wild olive tree” were “grafted in” to the “improved” tree, how much greater effect it would have for the “original, natural branches” to be “grafted into” the “good” and “improved” olive tree.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God desires to have both Jews and Gentiles in His Kingdom. Regardless into which group people have been born, God sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of them all. Those who are in Israel who have previously not believed that Jesus is the Messiah can turn to Him today and be “grafted back in” to God's “tree” of relationship. Because they are God's chosen people through whom the Messiah would come, incorporating them back to Him is a natural fit. Let all who read these words consider being“grafted into” a relationship with God through His Son Jesus, and allow Him to extend “everlasting life” to them today.

Next time Paul shares with his believing readers in Rome, “I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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