¹⁴I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them. ¹⁵When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.

¹⁶The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy.

If the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root. ¹⁸So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.

¹⁹You will say, “Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.” ²⁰That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud. Be afraid. ²¹God didn’t spare the natural branches. He won’t spare you either.

²²Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off.

²³If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.

²⁴After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵Brothers and sisters, here is a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God. That will continue until the full number of non-Jews has entered God’s kingdom. ²⁶And so all Israel will be saved. It is written,

“The One who saves will come from Mount Zion.

He will remove sin from Jacob.

²⁷Here is my covenant with them.

I will take away their sins.”

²⁸As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. That is for your good. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. That is because of God’s promises to the founders of our nation. ²⁹God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.

³⁰At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey. ³¹In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you. ³²God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

Praise to God

³³How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge!

How he judges is more than we can understand!

The way he deals with people is more than we can know!

³⁴“Who can ever know what is in the Lord’s mind?

Or who can ever give him advice?”

³⁵“Has anyone ever given anything to God,

so that God has to pay him back?”

³⁶All things come from him.

All things are directed by him.

All things are for his good.

May God be given the glory forever! Amen.

Read in Logos

Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!