Romans 11:18, Romans 11:20-22
Even during the time of the apostle Paul arrogance on the part of Gentiles towards the Jews was already a potential danger and history has shown that it later became a huge temptation for Christendom. God did not plant a new tree. He removed some branches from the old tree, Israel, and grafted others into it. The rich sap of the root from which the new branches now obtain their strength, Christ, does not just originate from the Jews. He has also always been the source and the strength of this people. He is God, who is blessed forever (Romans 9:5). Jesus Christ is not a newcomer. He is the root of David (Revelation 5:6, Revelation 22:16). He was before Abraham (John 8:58), who longed to see the day of Jesus (John 8:56. The Jewish people of Paul’s day may leave the Messiah, Abraham’s son, behind, as something to be rejected, but this does not mean that the Gentile Christians may not leave Abraham and David behind as irrelevant and passé. The Gentile Christians occupy places in the kingdom that have only been left empty by virtue of the people of Israel’s failure to believe in Christ. The church stands on the shoulders of the history of the Old Testament. If she forgets this, she can become proud and arrogant as though she had replacement of Israel as a whole and not just the unbelievers in Israel.
Paul reinforces this by describing the most common agrarian custom in a rather humorous manner. The image of engrafting is apposite, but the agricultural practice (especially in the eastern parts of the Mediterranean area—see Esler1) was actually to graft a cultivated branch into a wild stem2 What happens in the history of God’s people is similar, but with a major difference: here the stem is cultivated and the new branches are wild. Paul adapts the image he uses3 in such a way that the Gentile Christians cannot pride themselves in their own branch, for it is after all but a wild one.
In Romans 11:19–20 Paul again warns against arrogance: Then you will say, Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
Unbelief and faith determine who has a place in the natural olive tree, but it is God himself who grants that place. The branch who believes is engrafted, but it is not the human spirit, but the Holy Spirit who grants new life. It is God who punishes unbelief and grants faith. There is therefore no cause for pride, but there is certainly reason for awe and humility.
Being in awe of God is both appropriate and necessary. God is impartial (Romans 2:11), and in Romans 11:21–22 Paul writes: For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Withered branches can once again be newly engrafted. This highlights that it is not their place on the tree, but rather the life derived from the rich sap of the root that determines the future of the branches. Christians, whether they be ethnically Jewish, or whether they originate from other nations, can only continue to be considered part of God’s people through faith and trust, which is incompatible with pride and arrogance. When such a faith and trust is lacking, the branch withers and is cut off. This can happen again in future just like it had happened in the past, regardless of how it had been perceived during the time of the Old Covenant.4
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.