111 I say then, Has God cast away his people? Far be the thought. For I also am an Israelite, of [the] seed of Abraham, of [the] tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in [the history of] Elias, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and I have been left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal. 5 Thus, then, in the present time also there has been a remnant according to election of grace. 6 But if by grace, no longer of works: since [otherwise] grace is no more grace. 7 What [is it] then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded, 8 according as it is written, God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day. 9 And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them: 10 let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall [there is] salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy. 12 But if their fall [be the] world's wealth, and their loss [the] wealth of [the] nations, how much rather their fulness? 13 For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as I am apostle of nations, I glorify my ministry; 14 if by any means I shall provoke to jealousy [them which are] my flesh, and shall save some from among them. 15 For if their casting away [be the] world's reconciliation, what [their] reception but life from among [the] dead? 16 Now if the first-fruit [be] holy, the lump also; and if the root [be] holy, the branches also. 17 Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and thou, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree, 18 boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, [it is] not thou bearest the root, but the root thee.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 11:1-18
Commentary on Romans 11:1-10
(Read Romans 11:1-10)
There was a chosen remnant of believing Jews, who had righteousness and life by faith in Jesus Christ. These were kept according to the election of grace. If then this election was of grace, it could not be of works, either performed or foreseen. Every truly good disposition in a fallen creature must be the effect, therefore it cannot be the cause, of the grace of God bestowed on him. Salvation from the first to the last must be either of grace or of debt. These things are so directly contrary to each other that they cannot be blended together. God glorifies his grace by changing the hearts and tempers of the rebellious. How then should they wonder and praise him! The Jewish nation were as in a deep sleep, without knowledge of their danger, or concern about it; having no sense of their need of the Saviour, or of their being upon the borders of eternal ruin. David, having by the Spirit foretold the sufferings of Christ from his own people, the Jews, foretells the dreadful judgments of God upon them for it, Psalm 69. This teaches us how to understand other prayers of David against his enemies; they are prophecies of the judgments of God, not expressions of his own anger. Divine curses will work long; and we have our eyes darkened, if we are bowed down in worldly-mindedness.
Commentary on Romans 11:11-21
(Read Romans 11:11-21)
The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews, was the occasion of so large a multitude of the Gentiles being reconciled to God, and at peace with him; the future receiving of the Jews into the church would be such a change, as would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness. Abraham was as the root of the church. The Jews continued branches of this tree till, as a nation, they rejected the Messiah; after that, their relation to Abraham and to God was, as it were, cut off. The Gentiles were grafted into this tree in their room; being admitted into the church of God. Multitudes were made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness and blessedness. It is the natural state of every one of us, to be wild by nature. Conversion is as the grafting in of wild branches into the good olive. The wild olive was often ingrafted into the fruitful one when it began to decay, and this not only brought forth fruit, but caused the decaying olive to revive and flourish. The Gentiles, of free grace, had been grafted in to share advantages. They ought therefore to beware of self-confidence, and every kind of pride or ambition; lest, having only a dead faith, and an empty profession, they should turn from God, and forfeit their privileges. If we stand at all, it is by faith; we are guilty and helpless in ourselves, and are to be humble, watchful, afraid of self-deception, or of being overcome by temptation. Not only are we at first justified by faith, but kept to the end in that justified state by faith only; yet, by a faith which is not alone, but which worketh by love to God and man.