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The Olive Tree: A Remnant Of Israel Which Is The Church

June 25, 2006

 

In the Old Testament Israel is the olive tree
Jeremiah 11:16-17 The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are broken.17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
 
The privileges of Israel
Romans 9:4-5 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;  5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 
 
Israel - the church
Acts 7:37-38 This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. 38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us.
 
In The New Testament the olive tree
is only “a remnant” of Israel
Romans 11:16-24 “…if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some [not all] of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 
 
Explanation of Romans 11:16-17
Romans 11:16-17 “…and if the root (of the olive tree, v.17) be holy, so are the branches.   17 And if some [or a certain number] of the branches (natural branches – the majority of unbelieving Israel) were broken off (from the cultivated olive tree – elect Israel), and you (elect Gentiles in the church at Rome), being a wild olive tree, were (branches) grafted in among them (the natural branches that remained – a remnant of believing Israel not broken off), and with them became a partaker [one who shares with, a co-partner] of the root and fatness (the promised blessings) of the olive tree (elect Israel, the true Israel, the Lord’s church). 
  • THE ROOT =  Either the blessing of Abraham or Christ Himself, the one seed of Abraham, that made the New Covenant with His church.
  • A wild olive tree = Gentiles
  • The olive tree (a good or cultivated olive tree, v.24) = elect remnant of Israel, the Lord’s church
  • The natural branches that were broken off the olive tree= the majority of individual Israelites (physical Jews) in unbelief (in respect to Christ and the gospel of the kingdom) at the time Paul was writing Romans.
  • The natural branches that remain in the olive tree = a remnant of individual Israelites (physical Jews) that were faithful or believing in Christ and the gospel of the kingdom.
  • The branches of a wild olive treegrafted in among the remaining natural branches  = individual elect gentiles believing in Christ and the gospel of the kingdom.
God never set aside Israel
Romans 11:1-5 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! 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. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
 
Blindness was only “in part” not whole
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
 
Jesus divided the nation of israel
John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of Him.
 
John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
 
John 10:19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
 
Acts 28:17,23-24 “…Paul called the chief of the Jews together…23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
 
Two Israel’s
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
 
Israel after the flesh
1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
 
The majority of Israel rejected Christ
Matthew 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
 
A true israelite
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
 
A spiritual jew
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly (before man); neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly (before the eyes of God); and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit (faith), and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
 
A faithful remnant within israel
Romans 9:27 Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel (of the flesh), Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant (a true Israelite, the Israel of God) shall be saved.
 
Saved from being "cut off" from the kingdom
Luke 13:23,28-29 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out. 29 “And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
 
An elect remnant of israel
Romans 11:5,7 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 
 
Jesus made the new covenant with
a remnant of Israel
Luke 22:14,20 14 And when the hour was come, he (Jesus) sat down, and the twelve apostles (believing Israelites) with him. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you (a believing remnant of Israel, the true Israel).  
 
That remnant of Israel was His church
Acts 2:37, 41, 47 “Peter and to the rest of the apostles…41…they that gladly received his (Peter’s) word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them (“Peter and to the rest of the apostles v.37)  about three thousand souls. 47 …And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
 
For a Jew to reject membership in the church
it was to be cut off from Israel
Acts 3:22-23 For Moses said, The Lord will give you a prophet from among your people, like me; you will give ear to everything which he will say to you. 23 And every soul who does not give attention to that prophet, will be cut off from among the people (of Israel - the church).
 
the Israel of God is the church
Galatians 6:15-16 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and [or even] upon the Israel of God.
 
Christians are the circumcision
Philippians 3:3 For we (the members of Christ’s body, His church) are the (“true,” RSV) circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (our physical linage).
 
The kingdom was taken from the unbelieving
leaders of Israel
Matthew 21:23,43-45 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people (of Israel) came unto him as he was teaching…” 43 Therefore (after the parable of the wicked husbandmen & the vineyard) say I unto you,  The kingdom of God shall be taken from you (the unbelieving leaders of Israel), and given to a nation a people (the leaders of the believing remnant of Israel) bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
 
unbelieving Israel numbered with the nations
Acts 4:25-27 "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.' 27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together.
 
Jews but not Jews
Revelation 2:8-9 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write…9 I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.   
 
The kingdom was given to a believing
remnant of Israel
Luke 12:22,32 And he said unto his disciples…32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 
 
A remnant of Israel continued with Jesus
Luke 22:14,20,28-30 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you. 28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations [or trials]. 29 And I appoint [or covenant] unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed [covenanted] unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
Do not boast against branches
Romans 11:18-20 (Elect Gentiles, wild branches) do not boast against the branches (unbelieving Jews, the natural branches that were broken off ). But if you (elect Gentiles) do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
 
Beware: the branches were broken off
due to unbelief
Romans 11:19-20 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you (elect Gentiles) stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
 
you also can be cut off!!
Romans 11:21-22 For if God did not spare [to forbear to punish] the natural branches (His chosen people, the Jews), He may not spare you (elect Gentiles, wild branches grafted into the good olive tree) either. 22 Therefore (You in the church in Rome) consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you (the elect Gentiles engrafted branches), goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (from entering into the kingdom)
 
The natural branches can be grafted back again
Romans 11:23-24 And they (the natural branches, the unbelieving Jews) also, if they do not continue in unbelief (they come to repentance –as Paul did), will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you (the wild branches, elect Gentiles) were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these (the unbelieving Jews that repent), who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?