微读圣经

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

1I ask, then, has God rejected His people? 1Sm 12:22; Jr 33:24-26 Absolutely not! Lk 20:16 For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, 2Co 11:22; Php 3:5 from the tribe of Benjamin.

2God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. 1Sm 12:22; Ps 94:14; Rm 8:29; 1Pt 1:2 Or don’t you know Rm 6:16 what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel?

3Lord, they have killed Your prophets

and torn down Your altars.

I am the only one left,

and they are trying to take my life! 1Kg 19:10,14; 1Th 2:14 1Kg 19:10,14

4But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. 1Kg 19:18 1Kg 19:18

5In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. 2Kg 19:4; Rm 9:27

6Now if by grace, Rm 4:4 then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. Other mss add But if of works it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, Rm 9:31 but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, Mk 6:52; Rm 9:18; 11:25; 2Co 2:14

8as it is written:

God gave them a spirit of insensitivity, Lit stupification

eyes that cannot see

and ears that cannot hear,

to this day. Dt 29:4; Is 29:10; Mt 13:13-14 Dt 29:4; Is 29:10

9And David says:

Let their feasting Lit table become a snare and a trap,

a pitfall and a retribution to them.

10Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent continually. Ps 69:22-23 Ps 69:22-23

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

11I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, Or transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles Ac 28:28 to make Israel jealous.

12Now if their stumbling Or transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring! Rm 11:25

13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, Ac 9:15 I magnify my ministry,

14if I can somehow make my own people Lit flesh Gn 29:14; 2Sm 19:12-13; Rm 9:3 jealous and save some of them. 1Co 1:21; 7:16; 9:22; 1Tm 1:15; 2:4; 2Tm 1:9; Ti 3:5

15For if their rejection brings reconciliation Rm 5:11 to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? Lk 15:24,32

16Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy, Nm 15:17-21; Neh 10:37; Ezk 44:30 so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Now if some of the branches were broken off, Jr 11:16; Jn 15:2 and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them Eph 2:12-13 and have come to share in the rich root Other mss read the root and the richness of the cultivated olive tree,

18do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag — you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. Jn 4:22

19Then you will say, Rm 9:19 “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

20True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Rm 5:2; 1Co 10:12; 2Co 1:24 Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. Rm 12:16; 1Tm 6:17; 1Pt 1:17

21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.

22Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness Rm 2:4 toward you — if you remain in His kindness. 1Co 15:2; Heb 3:6,14 Otherwise you too will be cut off. Jn 15:2

23And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, 2Co 3:16 will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

24For if you were cut off from your native wild olive and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these — the natural branches — be grafted into their own olive tree?

25So that you will not be conceited, Rm 12:16 brothers, I do not want you to be unaware Rm 1:13 of this mystery: Mt 13:11; Rm 16:25; 1Co 2:7-10; Eph 3:3-5,9 A partial hardening has come to Israel Rm 11:7 until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. Lk 21:24; Jn 10:16

26And in this way all Or And then all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

The Liberator will come from Zion;

He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.

27And this will be My covenant with them Is 59:20-21 Is 59:20-21

when I take away their sins. Jr 31:31-34; Heb 8:10,12 Jr 31:31-34

28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, Rm 5:10 but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, Dt 7:8; 10:15; Rm 9:5

29since God’s gracious gifts and calling Rm 8:28; 1Co 1:26; Eph 1:18; 4:1,4; Php 3:14; 2Th 1:11; 2Tm 1:9; Heb 3:1; 2Pt 1:10 are irrevocable. Or are not taken back Heb 7:21

30As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

31so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now Other mss omit now may receive mercy.

32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, Rm 3:9; Gl 3:22-23 so that He may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

33Oh, the depth of the riches Rm 2:4; Eph 3:8

both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! Col 2:3; Eph 3:10

How unsearchable His judgments Jb 5:9; 11:7; 15:8

and untraceable His ways!

34For who has known the mind of the Lord? Is 40:13-14; 1Co 2:16

Or who has been His counselor?

35Or who has ever first given to Him,

and has to be repaid? Jb 35:7; 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18 Jb 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18

36For from Him and through Him

and to Him are all things. 1Co 8:6; 11:12; Col 1:16; Heb 2:10

To Him be the glory forever. Amen.