“If by any means I may provoke to jealousy then which are my flesh [nation of Israel], and might save some of them” (vs14).

(1) God blinds sinners who won’t believe. We’re born blind, but we can repent. But, when we’ve been blinded, we’ll never repent, and our doom is sealed - “What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were hardened“ (Rom 11:7).There is no return from reprobation, so don’t trifle with and play with the gospel.

God gives the slumber, and you can’t see. They have eyes, but they can’t see spiritual things, no matter how much they’re told - “According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day“ (vs8). In a sense, all men are blind, but not all men have been given over to blindness and double-cursed by God. What tragedy to have eyes and not see with them… ears that you cannot hear! They deceive you into thinking you see and hear, but you don’t. Blindness has happened unto Israel for 2000 years, and the result is VERY few believe still. To this day, the decision of unbelief is a curse to them (Matt 27:25).

They stumble over what should have helped them love God - “And David says, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense to them” (vs9). It is God’s PAYBACK for unbelief, despising the Son! How can you see, when your eyes are cursed of God? How can you believe? Punishment and misery are in the place of blessing. It is serious to fight God in unbelief, to refuse the Son. Bow while you can, lest you’re cursed to “cannot”.

(2) Israel has fallen, but that’s not the end. Just as God has mercy on us by the wrath He gave Satan - using him and warning us by him - He forbids that wrath works no good end - “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” (vs11). It is through the fall of one that grace is preached to others; it is through the Flood that grace is preached to us, warning us effectively of danger (1 Pet 4:6). In all that He does, even in hell’s doctrine of damnation eternal, God brings good out of evil, and He saves by the fury that He unleashes (Hab 3:2).

The gift of God comes to people WARNED of God, people who HEAR from God because others wouldn’t… even dog Gentiles who were hated by the Jews. It leads others to inquire of God, as they see the mercy He gives. They’re bound and joyless, and they see FREE grace working HOLINESS.

Israel hated Moses and despised God, so He promised mercy to the world as JUST and merciful consequence (Numb 14:20-21). He shall also save the elect Jews BY the mercy shown the elect Gentiles, who reveal and live out the message - “Now if the fall of [Israel the nation] be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness” (vs12). How much joy we have in mercy to them.

Hear, Oh Gentiles! I am sent by God to you - “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles”, Paul says, “I magnify my office” (vs13). I proclaim the truth as one appointed by God who rejoices in salvation come your way My ambition is saving sinners; it isn’t using things to STOP my preaching but to encourage me in the way - “If by any means I may provoke to jealousy them which are my flesh [Israel], and might save some of them” (vs14). I want you stirred to salvation. I want you wanting Christ.

You who are Jews, I want you saved. Reprobation has come, but MERCY, more mercy, has come too! Come back, Oh Jews! God will rejoice, and we rejoice in salvation for you - “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving of them be, but life from the dead” (vs15)?

(3) The Son is holy, so those joined to Christ shall be fruitful, no matter WHO they are. Acceptance with God is the FRUIT of union with Christ, being one with Him by faith - “For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches” (vs16). If we are with Christ, we have favor with God.

You were broken, Oh Jews, for unbelief. You were grafted in, Oh Gentiles, by faith - “And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you” (vs17-18). You partake of promises made to Israel, being saved with many Jews who believed. You are joint-heir in Christ, and you enjoy Christ’s grace together! Don’t be proud, like “I’m someone great”, despising others. The Jews, in and out of Christ, are for winning, and God saves to make saviors. If you think you’re something, take heed. You are not the Christ. He upholds you from destruction; He SAVES you from sin!

We say, the Jews are forsaken nationally. They were cursed with blindness, and I am in the fold now - “You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in” (vs19). I enjoy the gospel privileges.

Think again. Unbelief is why the Jews were deceived with blindness: they were rejected for rejecting Christ - “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear” (vs20). You’re no different: without faith, you won’t please God. Don’t proudly boast. Reverence God, abiding in Christ- “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you” (vs21). Beware! He is a God who judges in the earth. He will do justly with us all.

Look. The goodness of God saves you by faith, and the harshness and just anger of God destroys the unbelieving - “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness. If you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off” (vs22). He is a holy God appeased in Christ only. People who rebel are punished, and He hates them perfectly, forever (Deut 7:10). But, He’ll do different with believers: goodness upon goodness upon goodness from God to you on the condition of faith. Stay in Christ and not self! He is GOOD to you, or else even you will pay forever.

If the Jews repent, returning by faith… if they quit rejecting Christ… they shall be received - “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again” (vs23). God will save the foreknown (vs2). He will make them Christ’s.