Romans 11: God Has Not Rejected Israel

Romans 11: God Has Not Rejected Israel

Collin Leong. November 12, 2025

(v1-10) The Remnant of Israel

(v1-2) Paul started with a rhetorical question, on whether God has rejected His people (the Israelites). Paul said "No!" for he himself is an Israelites, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God would not reject the person whom he foreknew.

Exp: In v2, the word "foreknew" does not just mean God knows them for a long time. It emphasizes on the intimate relationship that they had with one another, and that God chose them to be His people through a covenant.  

(v3-6) Paul gave an example Elijah and how he cries to God. He told God that the Israelites have killed His prophets and demolish you altars, and he was alone and they sought his life. But God replied that He has kept seven thousand mane who have not bowed the knee to Baal. (1 Kings 19:10,14; 1 Kings 19:18). So too, there is a remnant of the Israelites, chosen by grace, not by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 

(v7-10) Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking - the elect obtained it but the rest were hardened. It is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10 ) David also said that “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” (Psalm 69:22,23)

Exp: This “spirit of stupor” is both divine judgment and a reflection of their resistance. Quoting Psalm 69, Paul shows that even blessings (“their table”) became a trap because of unbelief. Israel repeatedly resisted God’s word, rejected the prophets, and ultimately stumbled over Christ. Their unbelief set the stage for judgment. In response, God “gave them” over to blindness and hardness of heart. This is not arbitrary—it is God confirming them in the path they chose. For us, a continual rejection of God’s word can lead to a hardened heart where spiritual sensitivity is lost. Nevertheless, Paul says that if they do not persist in unbelief, they can be "grafted" back in (v23). 

(11-24) Gentiles Grafted In

(v11-12) Did Israel stumble in order that they might fall? No, but through their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass and failures means riches for the world and the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 

Exp: In v12, the "the riches" to the world and gentiles refer the blessings that includes salvation, reconciliation and participation in God's kingdom. These are all spiritual "riches".  The phrase "how much more will their full inclusion mean" refers to a future time when Israel reconciled to God. In a sense their failure bring spiritual riches to the world, and in future their repentance will be celebrated by even the Gentiles!

(v13-16) Paul is now speaking to the Gentiles. He is an apostle to the Gentiles, and He magnify his ministry in order to make his fellow Jews jealous, so that some of them may be saved. If their rejection means reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 

Exp: In v16. The "dough" represents the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) who were the firstfruits offered to God was holy, then the entire "lump" (Israel) is considered holy as well. Similarly,  If the root of a tree is holy, the branches that grow from it share in that holiness. As such, God will never abandon them. This verse reassures the Gentiles: Israel’s story isn’t finished. Their “full inclusion” (v12) is guaranteed by the holiness of the root.

(v17-21) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you (Gentiles), although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches (Israelites). Remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. You may be right to say the branches were broken off so that you may be grafted in, but they were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fear - if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. 

(v22-24) Note the severity of God towards those who have fallen, and God's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. Even they, who discontinue their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. If you were cut from a wild olive tree and unnaturally grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will the natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree. 

Exp: in v24, the words “How much more” carries the sense of “how much easier it is” for God to graft in the natural branches. The metaphor works because in horticulture, grafting wild branches is unusual and difficult, while restoring natural branches is straightforward. Paul is reassuring Gentile believers: if God could do the “hard” thing (bring Gentiles into Israel’s covenant blessings), then He will certainly do the “easy” thing (restore Israel). This ties back to v16 (root and branches) and v12 (Israel’s “full inclusion”).

(v25-36) The Mystery of Israel's Salvation

(v25-27) I don't want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers - a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved as it is written that the Deliverer will come from Zion and will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be His covenant with them when I take away their sins. (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34)

Exp: In v25, "full number" represents "the completion; fullness, and totality required" to reach a goal. God has set a plan for how many Gentiles will be brought into His covenant family, before the next stage unfolds. Some people believe this "fullness" will happen after the last Gentile is saved during or before the tribulation. Some others said the "fullness" can be achieved in any point of history. As of today, the fulness of the Gentiles has not happened, and Israel's heart is still hardened and very few of them are believers. 

(28-32) They are your enemies as far as the gospel is concerned, but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were once disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they will also receive mercy for their disobedience as a result of God's mercy on you.  For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. 

Exp: Paul has always emphasized that God gave mercy to the Gentiles due to the disobedience of Israel (v30). Note that this does not mean that God won't gave us mercy if Israel was obedient! God’s plan from the beginning was to bless all nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Even if Israel had obeyed, Gentiles were always included in God’s covenant vision. What Paul meant was that the Israel's rejection accelerated Gentile inclusion - it opened the door for the gospel to spread rapidly among Gentiles. In that sense, Gentiles received mercy through Israel’s disobedience, because it created the historical conditions for the gospel to go outward.

In v32, "bound everyone over to disobedience" does not mean God caused people to sin. Scripture consistently affirms that God is holy and does not cause sin (James 1:13). Rather, God allowed humans to experience our natural character of disobedience, so that when His salvation could be recognized as a pure mercy, not human achievement. Human beings freely disobey, and God uses that disobedience to highlight His mercy.

(v33-36) Doxology

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and 

knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  (Isaiah 40:13)

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Job 41:11)

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Exp: Paul bursts into a doxology after explaining God's mysterious plan of mercy. A doxology is not a formal hymn, but a spontaneous overflow of praise, often concluding a section of teaching or prayer. In Greek, it is "doxologia". "doxa" = “glory,” “honor,” “praise”. logia = “saying,” “utterance,” “speech” (from logos, “word”) Put together, doxología literally means “a word of glory” or “an utterance of praise.”

Key Messages

Romans 11 emphasizes God’s sovereign plan in salvation history: Israel’s rejection is not final, Gentile inclusion is purposeful, and ultimately God’s mercy will encompass all. Paul explains the mystery of Israel’s partial hardening, the grafting in of Gentiles, and the assurance that God’s promises remain irrevocable. The chapter climaxes with a doxology, praising the depth of God’s wisdom and mercy.

1. God Has Not Rejected Israel (vv.1–10)

• Paul himself, a Jew, is proof that God has not abandoned His people.

• There remains a faithful remnant chosen by grace.

• Israel’s hardening is partial and temporary, not total or permanent.

Application: Trust that God’s promises never fail. Even when circumstances look bleak, He preserves a faithful remnant. We can rest in His covenant faithfulness.

2. Israel’s Rejection Opens the Door for Gentiles (vv.11–15)

• Israel’s stumbling brought salvation to the Gentiles.

• This inclusion is meant to provoke Israel to jealousy and eventual restoration.

• God’s plan transforms human failure into opportunity for mercy.

Application: See your salvation as part of God’s larger story. Be humble and grateful—your inclusion is not by merit but by mercy.

3. The Olive Tree: Gentiles Grafted In (vv.16–24)

• Israel is the cultivated olive tree; Gentiles are wild branches grafted in.

• Gentiles must not boast over Israel but remain humble in faith.

• God can graft Israel back in if they turn from unbelief.

Application: Live with humility. Your place in God’s family is by faith, not superiority. Avoid arrogance and continue in God’s kindness.

4. The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation (vv.25–32)

• Israel’s hardening lasts until the “full number of Gentiles has come in.”

• Then “all Israel will be saved,” showing God’s mercy to both groups.

• God has bound all under disobedience so He may show mercy to all.

Application: Recognize that salvation is entirely mercy. Don’t boast in your obedience—see yourself as a recipient of undeserved grace, alongside all others.

5. Doxology: Praise for God’s Wisdom (vv.33–36)

• Paul concludes with awe: God’s wisdom and ways are unsearchable.

• All things are from Him, through Him, and for Him.

• To Him belongs glory forever.

Application: Let theology lead to doxology. When you grasp God’s mercy and sovereignty, respond with worship. Praise is the fitting end to deep reflection.

Romans 11 teaches us humility, gratitude, and awe. God’s plan weaves together Israel and Gentiles, disobedience and mercy, human failure and divine faithfulness—all culminating in worship.