The Remant of Israel

1 I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:

3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? 1

4 And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

5 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see,
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.” 1
9 And David says:
“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” 2

11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.

22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

2-6, Real Israel has always been less than the nation
7, Real Israel was always going to inherit the promises
7-10, The Unbelievers in Israel were hardened
11-16, Their hardening was not to the upmost
17-24, Gentiles too could fall away in unbelief

1. From whom does Paul quote in this passage, and how does it help his argument?
2. How does the “grafted in” image remind you of your dependence on God?
3. How does God harden people?
4. What does Paul mean in 11:21
5. How can humility help you better serve in the church?