For if God ... - If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the ingrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent stock. The situation of the Gentiles is not such as to give them any security over the condition of the rejected Jew. read more
Behold, therefore ... - Regard, or contemplate, for purposes of your own improvement and benefit, the dealings of God. We should look on all his dispensations of judgment or of mercy, and derive lessons from all to promote our own steadfast adherence to the faith of the gospel.The goodness - The benevolence or mercy of God toward you in admitting you to his favor. This calls for gratitude, love, confidence. It demands expressions of thanksgiving. It should be highly prized, in order that it may... read more
And they also - The Jews.If they bide not ... - If they do not continue in willful obstinacy and rejection of the Messiah. As their unbelief was the sole cause of their rejection, so if that be removed, they may be again restored to the divine favor.For God is able ... - He has,Power to restore them, to bring them back and replace them in his favor. (2)He has not bound himself utterly to reject them, and forever to exclude them.In this way the apostle reaches his purpose, which was to show them... read more
Romans 11:19-21. Thou wilt say Thou wilt object; The branches were broken off For their infidelity and rejection of Jesus and his gospel; that I might be graffed in And therefore we may glory over them as they once did over us. Well; take this thought at least along with thee, Because of unbelief they were broken off It was not undeservedly, by an act of absolute sovereignty and prerogative, but because of unbelief: by which it appears, it is possible for whole churches, as well as... read more
Romans 11:22-23. Behold, therefore In this dispensation; the goodness and severity of God Consider them maturely, and lay them deeply to heart: on them which fell The unbelieving Jews, who took offence at the mean appearance of Jesus, and so fell into unbelief, and were cut off for it; severity Or the exercise of strict justice; for God laid righteousness to the line, and judgment to the plummet, and dealt with them according to their sins, after many ages of astonishing patience... read more
Salvation sent to the Gentiles (11:1-24)All the above does not mean that God has totally rejected his people Israel. The fact that Paul has received salvation is proof that he has not (11:1). Just as in Elijah’s time there was a minority in Israel who did not turn away from God, so too in Paul’s time there is a minority whom God owns as his (2-5). These are God’s people not because of their good works, but because of God’s grace (6). They are few in number, but they have obtained the... read more
unbelief . See Romans 11:30 with Romans 3:3 . faith App-150 . highminded = arrogant. Greek. hupselophroneo . Only here and 1 Timothy 6:17 . read more
natural = according to ( App-104 .) nature. lest . The texts read "that". also spare not = neither (Greek. oude) spare. read more
Behold . App-133 . goodness . See Romans 2:4 . severity = cutting off. Greek. apotomia. Only here. toward = on, as above. if . App-118 . continue . See Romans 6:1 . read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 11:20
Well - True. It is true they were broken off; but in order to show that there was no occasion for boasting, he adds that they were not rejected in order to admit others, but because of their unbelief, and that their fate should have a salutary impression on those who had no occasion for boasting, but who might be rejected for the same cause. This is an instance of remarkable tact and delicacy in an argument, admitting the main force of the remark, but giving it a slight change in accordance... read more