Grafting of Gentiles

February 26th, 2025
by Dr. Lance Waldie

Romans 11:16-18 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 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.

In vv. 16-18 Paul illustrates the truth that Israel’s stumbling is temporary, not permanent, and that the remnant within the nation will be saved. First, the “first piece of dough is holy” refers to a grain-offering whereby a lump of dough is presented to God through the priests (Num. 15:17-21), like the first-fruits of the crops commanded in Leviticus 19:24-25. These offerings were to be taken off the top as indicative of the best Israel had to offer to God. The sample represented the full crop and grain and looked forward to eternal blessing in the land God had promised to Israel. The first-fruits of such offerings consecrated the entire thing it represented, whether crops or grains. Paul’s point in v. 16 was in keeping with this OT principle, namely that if the dough offered as first-fruits was holy, then the entire batch was holy.

Second, the “root” is a reference to the Jewish patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) who made the entire nation “holy.” Notably, Philo (20 BC – AD 50) spoke concerning the root of Israel, saying, “Surely Abraham is indeed the founder of the nation and the race, since from him a root sprang the young plant called Israel.” What Paul is saying, therefore, is that if Abraham—the patriarch of the Israelite nation—was holy, then the nation which sprang forth from his loins is holy. Here, the word “holy” does not mean set apart for salvation as it does in other parts of the NT. Paul uses it here to mean “set apart” for God’s special attention (cf. 1 Cor. 7:14).

From the root metaphor Paul paints a picture of a rooted tree with branches, some of which have been broken off while some remain. Also, he speaks of branches that have been grafted into the existing olive tree from a wild olive tree. Paul used the olive tree to illustrate probably because it was the most widely cultivated tree throughout Israel, and more importantly, the olive tree represents Israel in the OT (Jer. 11:16; Hos. 14:5-6). In the illustration, each part of the tree represents key peoples in the history of salvation. The root represents the patriarchs of Israel who were set apart for God’s special purpose in the salvation of His elect. The natural branches are the Jewish people who descended physically from those patriarchs and who were faithful to God (cf. Heb. 11)—the remnant chosen by grace (11:5). The wild olive shoots are Gentile believers who are grafted into the olive tree by God’s grace through faith. But the branches that were broken off represent Jews who willingly rejected Christ (i.e., Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, etc.).

Now since the patriarchs were “holy,” so also are the Jewish people. This in itself means that God’s rejection of the Israelite nation was neither complete (Rom. 11:1-10) nor final (11:11-24). The entire nation is “holy” because the root is holy. As for Gentile believers, they are joint heirs with Abraham—the holy root, “the father of all who believe without being circumcised in order that righteousness might be reckoned to them” (Rom. 4:11; cf. Gal. 3:16). This means that Gentile Christians have no right to be arrogant toward Jews, for the root of Judaism sustains them. Besides, God is not finished with Israel but will ultimately bring His remnant to faith.

Food For Thought
When God called the nation of Israel to be a light to the world, they became arrogant. Falsely believing that God only loved them, they hated the Gentile nations. Today, Gentile nations have reversed this and have grown arrogant toward Israel, some even claiming that Israel means nothing! Truth is, Israel is holy, and Gentiles would do well to respect and love them.