"17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 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. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;" Romans 11:17-25
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit was deeply burdened for Israel. His hope was that the gentiles who the Lord called him to, would understand and be humbled by the deep cost that Israel is and now has been paying for 2,000 years. There is no room for arrogance, there is no room for a gentile to feel that in any way they have replaced or super seeded Israel. The second we leave their root we are cut off. Paul had the humility of God to see this mystery and to stand before it trusting in the wisdom of our great God.
On the other hand, Luther, had great expectations that his reformation would be welcomed and embraced by the Jews and when they did not turn and repent in the way he expected, he looked at Jewish writings and saw that they disparaged Jesus and he went off, way off! He wrote a hate-filled book that in a very real sense opened the door for Nazi anti-Semitism.
Oh God save us from ourselves! Help us to look with humility at the terrifying cost of the partial hardening, and break us till we are crying out to you for them in priestly intercession!
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;" Romans 11:17-25
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit was deeply burdened for Israel. His hope was that the gentiles who the Lord called him to, would understand and be humbled by the deep cost that Israel is and now has been paying for 2,000 years. There is no room for arrogance, there is no room for a gentile to feel that in any way they have replaced or super seeded Israel. The second we leave their root we are cut off. Paul had the humility of God to see this mystery and to stand before it trusting in the wisdom of our great God.
On the other hand, Luther, had great expectations that his reformation would be welcomed and embraced by the Jews and when they did not turn and repent in the way he expected, he looked at Jewish writings and saw that they disparaged Jesus and he went off, way off! He wrote a hate-filled book that in a very real sense opened the door for Nazi anti-Semitism.
Oh God save us from ourselves! Help us to look with humility at the terrifying cost of the partial hardening, and break us till we are crying out to you for them in priestly intercession!
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