Boast Not Against the Branches Romans 11:18

Paul the apostle asked the people in Rome, “ if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul instructed the people in Rome, “boast not against the branches” where we read:

Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.

The verse begins, “Boast not against the branches.” Paul began with the words, “boast not against” which means “do not glory, exult over or rejoice in opposition to” “the branches” which refers to “the young tender shoots which are broken off for grafting”. Paul shared how the Gentile believing people in Rome should not “glory or exult” themselves against the people of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.”. Paul continued with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “if you boast” or “whether Paul's believing readers in Rome glory, exult and rejoice”, “you bear not” which means “the believing readers in Rome do not carry, sustain, uphold or support” “the root” or “a sprout, shoot, offspring or progeny”, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and with exception” “the root you” or “the sprout, shoot, offspring and progeny bears the believing people in Rome”. Paul reminded his readers if they were to “brag or glory” about their position because they were not the origin of faith but were rather recipients of it.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see his warning to the Gentiles concerning “glorying or bragging” about their relationship with God. Paul reminded them how they were the benefactors of the people in Israel. Jesus Christ came to Israel first, and afterwards he was presented to the Gentiles. God desires for everyone to know Him through His Son Jesus, and when they receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they become a part of His original idea to have everyone to be in a relationship with Him.

Next time Paul addresses his readers in Rome with the idea that, “the branches were broken off”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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