David Koberstein
Active member
Paul says to the Gentile believers, "and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them." Note that it
is not instead of them, but among them. Gentile believers, as wild olive branches, are added to the olive tree
among the natural believing branches. Gentiles do not replace Jewish people.
Partaking of the root means depending on the promises of God, which provide the spiritual nourishment for
the soul. It is possible to be saved, but under-nourished: feeding on fear, anxiety, or pride, and not on His
promises by faith. We are to "desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow in respect to salvation"
(1 Peter 2:2), and to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be addded
on to you" (Matthew 6:33).
The idea of grafting Gentiles into Israel is understood in traditional Judaism:
"R. Eleazar further stated: What is meant by the text, and in thee shall the families of the earth be blessed?
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, 'I have two goodly shoots to engraft on you:
Ruth the Moabitess and Naamah the Ammonitess'. (Both belonged to idolatrous nations and were 'grafted'
upon the stock of Israel. The former was the ancestress of David (Ruth 4:13 ff), and the latter the mother of
Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31) and his distinguished descendants Asa, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah.)"
(Yevamot 63a; cf. Leviticus Rabbah 1:2)
One view of the olive tree is that it represents salvation; thus being "broken off" means to "to forfeit one's
salvation." However, in the text and in the larger context, the olive tree does not refer to Israel's salvation
(in the body of Messiah), but to Israel's service. So also, to be broken off is to be removed from that service.
This is an important distinction. Because of his arrogance and disobedience, Samson was blinded and removed
from service for the Lord, and ended up serving the pagans. Yet, the New Covenant names this same Samson
among the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11:32)! Removal from service does not mean a loss of salvation, though
in the case of the natural branches that were broken off, they are without salvation apart from Messiah.
Those who believe will receive, along with salvation, a return to service in the Lord. When Paul says to the wild
branches, "nor will He spare you," Gentiles are threaten with being likewise broken off. This also refers to
their removal from service.
Though God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11), He is a respecter of positions that He has established.
Jewish people are set apart by the root into a place of calling, and if they will believe, into a place of blessing.
The calling is holy, and should be respected even if the individual is unworthy (see Acts 23:5). This is why David
was careful to do nothing to despise King Saul in his position, although Saul was unworthy and didn't live up
to that position (! Samuel 24 and 26). This is why we are to honor our fathers and mothers, though they may not
live up to their calling as parents.
The position may be holy, but the individual in the position is blessed and saved only by personally depending
on the Lord, not by having a position. So regardless of anyone's position: "without faith it is impossible to
please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). In any case, as the promises to Abraham are certain, so we are certain that God will
restore Israel when they come to faith in Yeshua. This certainty in God's promises is seen in one's attitude toward
Jewish people, the natural branches.
Regarding the removal of Jewish people from service, only "some of the branches were broken off," not all of them.
As we have studied, Israel's unbelief is only partial. Only the unbelieving, natural branches---as many as that may be
are broken off from service. Was god through with Israel during Elijah's day, or in the wilderness with Moses? NO,
He was not. As a witness nation, Israel lives on through the remnant of believing natural branches.
There is a holy call upon the Jewish people to serve God, and the fulfillment of that call comes by faith. Jewish people
individually respond to faith in Yeshua in order to enjoy the blessings and service that accompany salvation.
Faith sets you apart; and unbelief sets you aside.
Shalom Rav שלום רב
is not instead of them, but among them. Gentile believers, as wild olive branches, are added to the olive tree
among the natural believing branches. Gentiles do not replace Jewish people.
Partaking of the root means depending on the promises of God, which provide the spiritual nourishment for
the soul. It is possible to be saved, but under-nourished: feeding on fear, anxiety, or pride, and not on His
promises by faith. We are to "desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow in respect to salvation"
(1 Peter 2:2), and to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be addded
on to you" (Matthew 6:33).
The idea of grafting Gentiles into Israel is understood in traditional Judaism:
"R. Eleazar further stated: What is meant by the text, and in thee shall the families of the earth be blessed?
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, 'I have two goodly shoots to engraft on you:
Ruth the Moabitess and Naamah the Ammonitess'. (Both belonged to idolatrous nations and were 'grafted'
upon the stock of Israel. The former was the ancestress of David (Ruth 4:13 ff), and the latter the mother of
Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31) and his distinguished descendants Asa, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah.)"
(Yevamot 63a; cf. Leviticus Rabbah 1:2)
One view of the olive tree is that it represents salvation; thus being "broken off" means to "to forfeit one's
salvation." However, in the text and in the larger context, the olive tree does not refer to Israel's salvation
(in the body of Messiah), but to Israel's service. So also, to be broken off is to be removed from that service.
This is an important distinction. Because of his arrogance and disobedience, Samson was blinded and removed
from service for the Lord, and ended up serving the pagans. Yet, the New Covenant names this same Samson
among the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11:32)! Removal from service does not mean a loss of salvation, though
in the case of the natural branches that were broken off, they are without salvation apart from Messiah.
Those who believe will receive, along with salvation, a return to service in the Lord. When Paul says to the wild
branches, "nor will He spare you," Gentiles are threaten with being likewise broken off. This also refers to
their removal from service.
Though God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11), He is a respecter of positions that He has established.
Jewish people are set apart by the root into a place of calling, and if they will believe, into a place of blessing.
The calling is holy, and should be respected even if the individual is unworthy (see Acts 23:5). This is why David
was careful to do nothing to despise King Saul in his position, although Saul was unworthy and didn't live up
to that position (! Samuel 24 and 26). This is why we are to honor our fathers and mothers, though they may not
live up to their calling as parents.
The position may be holy, but the individual in the position is blessed and saved only by personally depending
on the Lord, not by having a position. So regardless of anyone's position: "without faith it is impossible to
please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). In any case, as the promises to Abraham are certain, so we are certain that God will
restore Israel when they come to faith in Yeshua. This certainty in God's promises is seen in one's attitude toward
Jewish people, the natural branches.
Regarding the removal of Jewish people from service, only "some of the branches were broken off," not all of them.
As we have studied, Israel's unbelief is only partial. Only the unbelieving, natural branches---as many as that may be
are broken off from service. Was god through with Israel during Elijah's day, or in the wilderness with Moses? NO,
He was not. As a witness nation, Israel lives on through the remnant of believing natural branches.
There is a holy call upon the Jewish people to serve God, and the fulfillment of that call comes by faith. Jewish people
individually respond to faith in Yeshua in order to enjoy the blessings and service that accompany salvation.
Faith sets you apart; and unbelief sets you aside.
Shalom Rav שלום רב
