THE OLD COVENANT V THE NEW COVENANT (PT 2)

THE OLIVE TREE

“You, a wild olive, have been grafted in among them to share the nourishing sap from the olive root.” Romans 11:17

Let us first read the passage in Romans:

“I say then, Elohim (God) has not rejected and cast away His people, has He? Certainly not! .... Did they (Israel) stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

“Now if their transgression has enriched the world, and if their failure means such riches for the Gentiles, how much greater enrichment their full restoration will bring! .... For if their rejection and exclusion from the benefits of salvation led to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? And if the first handful of dough offered as first-fruits is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy also; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

“But if some of the branches have been broken off, while you, a wild olive, have been grafted in among them to share the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Right! But they were broken off because of their unbelief, and you stand only by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if Elohim (God) did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

“Look then at the kindness and severity of YAHWEH; to those who fell, severity, but to you, Elohim's (God’s) kindness, provided that you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for YAHWEH is able to graft them in again.

“For if you were cut out of a wild olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

“For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brethren, lest you be wise in your own estimation; a (temporary) hardening has happened to a part of Israel (which will continue) until the full number of Gentiles has come in.”

Romans 11:1, 11-12, 15-25

A hasty interpretation of the passage would say – “their own olive tree” means the tree is Israel; and therefore believing gentiles are grafted into Israel.

But the Israelites were not the tree – they were branches. They were privileged, having had the revelations of YAHWEH, and Elohim's (God’s) provision for atonement under the Old Covenant; but they were neither the root nor the sap. To be sustained as branches, they needed to partake of the nourishing sap.

The Olive Tree represents the Place of Privilege in the Purpose of YAHWEH ELOHIM (GOD).

“Their own olive tree” means Israel’s original place of privilege.

To teach that the Olive Tree is Israel and Jewish culture is ludicrous. National Israel cannot give us life and nourishment; in fact, Israel disappeared for nearly 1900 years. And neither can the Messiah Y’shua-rejecting religious Israel give us nourishment! Jewish culture, heritage or Hebrew itself may or may not help our understanding or bring encouragement, but they themselves are not the nourishing sap of the Olive Tree.

Even the true spiritual remnant of Israel - Jewish believers – are not the root of the Olive Tree. They also have been grafted into the Olive Tree, and are brought back into the place of privilege and purpose of YAHWEH ELOHIM.

“And they also, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for YAHWEH is able to graft them in again.” Romans 11:23

The Gentile believer’s are not grafted into the Jewish leaves; they are grafted in amongst them.

...NEXT. . .THE HOLY ROOT OF THE TREE