The grafting analogy in Romans 11 signifies that Israel was temporarily set aside, Gentiles have been grafted into the root of Abraham, and God will one day graft Israel back in.
Paul pictures Israel as the natural branches of a good olive tree and Gentile believers as a wild olive branch grafted in among them. The point is not just Gentile inclusion; it also guarantees Israel's future restoration. As Paul writes, if God could graft a wild branch in contrary to nature, He will more surely graft the natural branches back into their own olive tree. Les Feldick summarizes it as God's way of showing He is not through with the nation of Israel.
Romans 11:17-24 — Paul's olive tree illustration directly depicts Israel as natural branches and Gentiles as a wild branch grafted in, and explains why the natural branches can be grafted back.
Paul's olive tree illustration is found in Romans 11:17–24. He pictures the Jewish people as natural branches of a good olive tree and Gentile believers as a wild olive branch grafted in among them. Verse 17 says, "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;" Verse 18 makes clear that the Gentile does not support the root, but the root supports the branch. Verse 20 gives the reason: "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:" Verse 24 emphasizes the reversal of ordinary nature: "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?" Romans 11:25–26 then confirms that Israel's blindness is temporary: "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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
Les explains Paul's grafting analogy by describing a horticulturist who grafted improved pecan varieties onto an ordinary native pecan tree, and noted that native branches could later be grafted back in. That, he says, is what Paul describes in Romans 11: the nation of Israel was the native tree. After Israel rejected God for almost 2,000 years, God broke off the native branches and grafted in the Gentile. Eventually God will bring back the natural branches, meaning He will deal again with His covenant people. Les stresses that Romans 11 shows God is not through with Israel. Israel has been set aside for more than 1,900 years, without temple, priesthood, or sacrifice, but Gentile believers have now been placed over the root of father Abraham. Les also connects the analogy to Ezekiel 37 — Israel is coming back to its homeland and coming back to life physically, but is still spiritually dead. He points to Romans 11:11 to show that Israel did not stumble so as to fall, and through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
Les uses the example of a horticulturist who grafted pecans. An ordinary native pecan tree was cut off and improved varieties were grafted in, resulting in clusters of pecans as big as a fist. The horticulturist also explained that the grafts could be cut off and a native pecan branch could be grafted right back in. Les applies this directly to Romans 11: the native tree is Israel; after rejection, God broke off the native branches and grafted in the Gentile. Someday God will break off the grafted branches and bring back the natural.
From the call of Abraham to nearly 2,000 years of dealing with Israel, and 1,500 years under the Law, Israel rejected God. Finally God broke off the native branches and grafted in the Gentile. Paul's point in Romans 11:11 is that Israel did not stumble so as to fall; rather, through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:24 says that if a wild branch was grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, it is much more likely that the natural branches will be grafted back into their own olive tree. Les applies this to Israel's future: Israel has been set aside for more than 1,900 years, but God is not through with them. As Ezekiel 37 pictured, Israel is coming back to life physically — returning from every nation — but is still spiritually dead, waiting for God to deal with them again. Romans 11:26 adds, "And so all Israel shall be saved."
Israel's National Restoration Picture
Les connects the Romans 11 olive tree to Ezekiel 37, saying the nation of Israel is coming back to its homeland and coming back to life physically, but remains spiritually dead.
The Grafting Example
Les explains Paul's analogy using a horticulturist who grafted improved pecans onto a native pecan tree — the native tree represents Israel.
Broken-Off Branches and Gentile Grafting
Because Israel rejected God for almost 2,000 years, God broke off the native branches and grafted in the Gentile; He will one day bring the natural branches back.
God Is Not Finished With Israel
Les says Romans 11 shows God is not through with Israel; the nation was set aside, but Gentile believers now stand over the root of father Abraham.
Romans 6 & The Old Man Crucified With Christ — Finally Explained
Paul says, as he writes now to Gentiles, that at that time, when God was dealing with the circumcision, and the circumcision had no time for Gentiles in spiritual things, you Gentiles were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. So that left them out of the covenant promises. Strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Salvation Comes to Gentiles Through Israel's Fall
Les highlights Romans 11:11 — Israel stumbled but did not fall; through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
The Mystery of Romans 11:25
Les explains that 'mystery' in Romans 11:25 refers to a secret kept in the mind of God, connected to the church and Israel's future.
All Israel Shall Be Saved
Les teaches that Israel has been blinded and broken off from Abraham's root, but God has not lost track of them, and after the fullness of the Gentiles, Israel will be dealt with again.
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 introduces the core image of the wild olive branch being grafted into the cultivated olive tree.
Romans 11:20: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
It explains that unbelief caused the natural branches to be broken off and faith is the basis for the Gentile branch standing.
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 verse directly promises that Israel, the natural branches, will be grafted back into their own olive tree.
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.
It reveals the mystery that Israel's blindness is temporary and will last only until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
It states the future salvation of Israel, a key implication of the grafting analogy.
Romans 11:11: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
It shows that Israel's fall did not cancel them, but brought salvation to the Gentiles.
In Paul's analogy, the olive tree represents the root of father Abraham. The natural branches are Israel, and the wild olive branch is Gentiledom. Les Feldick says Gentiledom has now been placed over the root of Abraham.
Israel rejected God for almost 2,000 years, so God broke off the native branches and grafted in the Gentile. Through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles.
Yes. Paul writes that it is easier for the natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree, and Les teaches that God is not through with Israel. Romans 11:26 says 'And so all Israel shall be saved.'
Watch the Teaching: Wild Olive Tree Grafted In — What Romans 11 Says About Gentiles