The grafting analogy in Romans 11 both explains the Gentiles' present position in God's program and guarantees Israel's future restoration.
Israel is pictured as the natural branches of the good olive tree, broken off because of unbelief, while the Gentiles are the wild olive branch grafted in by grace. Les Feldick teaches that the analogy proves God is not through with Israel. Because God grafted wild branches into the tree, He is even more able to graft the natural branches back in, so Israel's future restoration is certain.
Romans 11:17-24 — This is the passage where Paul develops the olive-tree grafting analogy that directly answers the question.
In Romans 11:17, Scripture says that some of the natural branches were broken off and a wild olive tree — the Gentile — was grafted in among them, partaking of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Paul then explains why: "Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith" (Romans 11:20). The passage also carries a warning: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22). Finally, Scripture makes the restoration clear: "And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again" (Romans 11:23). The analogy reaches its climax in verse 24: if the wild branch could be grafted contrary to nature into the good olive tree, how much more shall the natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Les Feldick teaches that the grafting analogy in Romans 11 is Paul's way of showing that God is not through with the nation of Israel. Israel, the natural branches, was set aside for over 1,900 years — without temple, priesthood, sacrifice, or homeland until our generation — but God will graft her back in [Clip 1]. The wild olive tree represents Gentiledom, the whole Gentile system, which has been grafted over the root of Abraham in place of the broken-off natural branches [Clip 1, Clip 4]. Les stresses that these Gentiles were "no good" pagan branches, yet God took them by grace and made them partakers of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises [Clip 3]. The same warning applies: if the Gentiles reject God's goodness the way Israel did, they will be cut off [Clip 2, Clip 3]. This entire age is the time when God is calling out a people for His name, a predominantly Gentile bride, and only "after this" will God return to Israel to fulfill her promised future [Clip 0, Clip 7]. Paul also calls the present Gentile work a "mystery" — a secret kept in the mind of God until He chose to reveal it — and Romans 11 uses that mystery to explain Israel's partial blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in [Clip 5].
Les explains that the wild olive tree is the Gentiles. They are "an old no good olive tree" grafted into "the beautiful original, which was Israel" [Clip 4]. He emphasizes that this is not only individual believers, but the whole Gentile system placed over the root of Abraham [Clip 1, Clip 4]. The Gentiles were pagan and unproductive, but God took them and made them partakers of the Abrahamic promises by grace [Clip 3].
Scripture says the branches were broken off because of unbelief (Romans 11:20). Les adds that Israel rejected God's dealings, and God set the nation aside for more than 1,900 years without temple, priesthood, or sacrifice [Clip 1]. The same warning applies to the Gentiles: if they reject what Israel rejected, God will cast them aside as well [Clip 2].
Yes. Paul writes that God is able to graft the natural branches back into their own olive tree (Romans 11:23). Les teaches that God is not through with the nation of Israel; after the Gentiles have had their time, He will graft Israel in again [Clip 1, Clip 3]. Israel's covenant promises will yet be fulfilled, but that cannot happen until God has finished dealing with the Gentile church [Clip 7].
Calling Out a Gentile Bride
Les shows that in this age God is taking out of the Gentiles 'a people for His name' — the bride of Christ — and that 'after this' God will resume His work with Israel.
Israel Set Aside, Gentiledom Grafted In
Les explains the grafting process as Israel's branches broken off and Gentiledom placed over the root of Abraham — evidence that God is not through with Israel.
Warning to the Gentiles
Les warns that God will do to the Gentiles what He did to Israel — cast them aside if they reject His blessings.
Wild Branch Grafted by Grace
Les describes the wild branches as unproductive and 'no good,' yet God grafted them in by grace to share the Abrahamic promises; if the Gentiles reject, they too will be cut off, and Israel will be grafted in again.
The Whole Gentile System
Les clarifies that the grafting refers to the whole Gentile system, not just individual believers, being grafted into the place of Israel, which came through Abraham.
The Mystery in Romans 11:25
Les connects Romans 11:25 to Paul's unique word 'mystery' — a secret kept in God's mind about the church and Israel's future.
Opposite of Normal Grafting
Les points out that Romans 11's grafting is backward from normal horticulture — a wild branch is grafted into the good tree, not the other way around.
Israel's Future After the Church Age
Les says Romans 11 deals with Israel's future and that Israel's covenant promises cannot be fulfilled until God is through with the Gentile church; today a Jew approaches God the same way as a Gentile.
Romans 11:17: And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
This verse establishes the image of Israel's branches broken off and the Gentiles grafted in.
Romans 11:20: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
This gives the reason for the broken branches — unbelief — while the grafted-in Gentile stands by faith.
Romans 11:22: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
This warns the grafted wild branches not to presume on God's goodness.
Romans 11:23: And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
This promises restoration for Israel if they no longer remain in unbelief.
Romans 11:24: For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
This shows the argument from lesser to greater — natural branches are easier to restore than wild ones.
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.
This reveals the mystery of Israel's partial blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
The main point is that Israel, the natural branch, was set aside because of unbelief, and the Gentiles, the wild branch, have been grafted in by grace. Les teaches that this proves God is not through with Israel. He will graft the natural branches back in again because God is able to do so.
The wild olive tree is the Gentiles. Les says the whole Gentile system is pictured as an old, no-good olive tree grafted into the good olive tree of Israel. God took the pagan Gentiles and made them partakers of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises.
Les clarifies that the grafting is not limited to individual believers, although believers are certainly part of it. The analogy pictures the whole Gentile system being grafted into the place that originally belonged to Israel.
Israel will be grafted back in after God finishes calling out a people for His name from the Gentiles. Les ties this to the words 'after this' in James's speech, saying God will then return to Israel and fulfill His covenant promises.
Watch the Teaching: Why Is Israel Blind? The Mystery of Romans 11 Explained