And if some 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, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 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. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 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? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Romans 11:17-26
Oh, where to begin! Such a deep portion of Scripture. Baby steps, right?
Our initial predicament
Romans 11, as a whole, discusses the blessing we have as Gentiles because the Jews chose to reject their Messiah. Through their rejection, we are allowed to have a chance at accepting His invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Matthew 22:1-14; Revelation 19:9). Many are invited to salvation – in fact, the invitation is for all! However, where the distinction comes in is who does and does not believe. That is the only distinction between those who are grafted and those who are broken off. We as unbelieving Gentiles, were given a chance to be grafted in because of the unbelieving Jews who were broken off. Nonetheless, this is not for us to brag about our condition but instead to have holy fear and keep ourselves in check. For if He broke off those of His chosen people who did not believe, why would He spare Gentiles, once grafted in faith, who have grown away in unbelief? When we believe in Christ as the only Answer for life and the only Salvation for our problems, He can graft us in because of our faith. However, unbelief is just as easy and that is the deal breaker.
“being a wild olive tree”
Something incredible about this passage is the specific type of tree that was used: an olive. It wasn’t a fig tree – which is known for being symbolically Israel in the Bible – or any other species. Instead, it was a tree symbolic of peace. Another fascinating element is that the olive tree can grow in the wilderness. They can grow in the spiritually dry places. That speaks volumes. He brings peace to our dry hearts and grows a tree of peace. He brings something that only He can supply to the inner man.
The phrase “wild olive tree” hits even deeper. We are from a separate tree, made holy only by being grafted into the pure tree. Romans 11:16,18 states this when emphasizing the root and not the branches – not the product, but the ingredients. God is always concerned with the heart of the matter. The fruit shows the root, and in this case, the spiritual position of the heart. Being previously a part of the wild olive tree now grafted into the pure root shows the need for dying to oneself and the constant struggle between flesh (our wild past) and the spirit (the new pure tree). When we discipline ourselves and chase after the purer things, we eventually can conquer aspects of our flesh while we walk in the Spirit. We can never be perfect, for we live in a broken world and we still have the wild olive streak. In addition, this does not excuse our behavior when we are grafted in but it does give us something to continually strive for in His power – without the sustenance from the Root, we are dead.
Other mentions in Scripture
Other places that mention the olive tree show such a beautiful picture when compared to this passage in Romans. One is the detail that olive wood was used in the temple built by Solomon. Others include but are not limited to the Feast of Booths, the Ascension of Christ, and the various places in prophecy such as Revelation 11 and Zechariah 4.
The olive tree was used in the temple. When we are grafted into the family of Christ, an olive tree is used. This paints a beautiful picture that we are, as a body of believers, the spiritual house of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Peter 2:5). When we are grafted into the olive tree of Christ’s family, we are called to represent the roots. If we cannot represent the Root, then what are we doing?
Grafting and Living it out
Circling around, if we are grafted into the family of Christ, we are one. Those who believed, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, are one in Christ. There is no distinction between Spiritual Israel and the Church. We are one body in Christ; we must live out our faith. How are we able to show what we find sustenance in without living it out?
When James said in his epistle that faith without works is dead just as the body without the spirit is dead, that hits deep. Y’all the faith is the body of the belief. But the body cannot do anything without the spirit just as faith cannot be shown or acted on WITHOUT the works. The works do not save but it does bring the faith to life. Just as the branch does not do anything while the Root sustains it, our faith cannot be shown without the works. When we are grafted into the olive tree of the family of God, peace is brought to the inner man. But without living off the root, we cannot survive. Our faith does not survive without being acted on.
We are to remain in the Root and live a life so others can see the tree. We must live out our faith through love so that we may bring others to be grafted.
Rooted in Him 
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