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.”

Blindness in part is happened to Israel

Romans 9-10-11

Part 1 Romans 9 who wrote and to whom

By: Dov Avnon

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.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: Romans 11:25-26

Romans chapters 9-11. What is all about? Why is Christ, through Paul, spending 3 chapters to tell us about the Blindness in part has happened to Israel? 

The answer is, because of the dispensation of grace. We, the members of the Church which is His body, need to know that God's original plan to establish His earthly kingdom is a temporary stop. We need to understand Israel's position during this period and to know how Abraham's blessing went to the Gentiles regardless of Israel's blindness.

 It is important to understand that by the time Paul wrote those things, he already wrote his letter to the Galatians. In that letter, Paul introduced himself, explain how he receive this mystery, and explain his relation to Peter James and John the apostles from Jerusalem (chapters 1-2).

It is in Galatians chapter 3 that we receive our first knowledge about Abraham's blessings to the Gentiles during the dispensation of Grace. 

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Ephisians 3:6

I will try in the coming time to share with you some light about those important chapters and I will pray that God through His spirit will help us to understand them.

 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 2 Tim 2:7

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,

The first subject that we need to study, is to whom Paul is writing Romans chapters 9-11 ?. Are those chapters separate from the entire letter to the Romans? No!. It is important to understand that Paul is the apostle for the Gentiles:

Who wrote the Letter: Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles=Nations

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:15-16

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: Roman 11:13

15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:15

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Romans 16:4

Romans 9-11 “Blindness in part is happened to Israel

Another important question is:  to whom Paul writing about that “Blindness in part is happened to Israel” ? -

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. Romans 11:25

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. Romans 1:13

Paul is writing a letter to the Romans. He addressed the brethren who are in charge of the teaching. Paul uses the word BRETHREN almost 85 times in all his letters to Romans till Philemon’s. Those brethren might be Jews or Gentiles but they are now members of the Church which is His body.

Know ye not, brethren, for I speak to them that know the law, how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Romans 7:1

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Romans 8:12

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Romans 10:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Romans 9:3

It is important to understand the difference in brotherhood when Paul is talking about the KINSMAN according to the flesh or when he refers to fellow believers in the body of Christ.

Christ on earth and the seed of Abraham = brethren

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13

In those two places it is about what Paul is saying : my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Even today we can have much sorrow for many that we know and are still not saved.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Blindness in part is happened to Israel

Romans 9-10-11

The wild olive tree,

To understand the meaning of the “wild olive tree”, we need to go back to Paul's first letter to the Church which is His body and read carefully chapters 1-3. In Galatians chapters, 1-3 Paul is first introducing himself. He tells the believers how he received the mystery. He is writing about his relationship with Peter,James and John the apostles from Jerusalem and last he is writing about Abraham's blessing and the Gentiles.

I am writing first those details because Romans 11: 16 talks about Abraham. Yes, the wild olive tree is going back to Abraham. So to understand fully the revelation of the mystery and Israel's blindness. We need to start with Galatians chapters 1-3 

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16

Another important fact that we must understand before we are going further with our subjects, is about the gentiles. Does Paul write in Romans 9-11 to a different group of Gentiles? Did Christ give Paul two ministries? The answer is simple no and the next verse will help us to understand to whom is the subject of the wild olive is written.

I am the apostle of the Gentiles

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. Romans 11:13-14

Some teach that Paul is talking to Israel in Romans chapters 9-11 but the right answer is already here in the verse.  For I speak to you Gentiles. Yes, Paul is talking here to you and me. Gentiles which means nations. Some of us can be Jews while others are not but under this dispensation of grace, there is no difference. It is not only Paul talking here to the Gentiles but he is also the apostle to the Gentiles. I am emphasizing this fact so anyone who thinks that Romans 9-11 are written to Israel or a different group of gentiles, would go back to the word rather than following blindly the wisdom of people.

I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh

provoke to emulation = provoke to jealousy

I will provoke you to jealousy

10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you. Rom. 10

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. Rom. 11

Is there anything that Jews should be jealous of in the members of the Christian religion as we know in the name of catholic, protestant, etc. ? No! there is nothing to be jealous of in any religion as such. Of course, one religion will have nicer costumes than others but if we will compare any man-made religion or tradition of man to the living written Word of God. We will see that at the end of the day, they are all saying the same. It is all about doing the best you can to please God and to get a place in heaven,.

No I am not going to talk to you about how better the Christian tradition and history from all the other well-known traditions. I am going to talk to you about how God gave the apostle Paul a gospel, the dispensation of grace with the purpose to provoke Israel and to make them jealous of what we know as the Gospel of God's grace.

provoke them to jealousy – is not moving people from one church building to other or changing their religious identity.. provoke them to jealousy – is letting them know the following truth.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph. 1:13

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Eph 2:14

Any sinner among the Jews in Paul's times or our time should be jealous in anyone who has the full assurance of salvation and peace with God only through faith in Christ our Lord.

Christ gave Paul a dispensation (Eph 3:1-9) with the purpose that Jews and Gentiles will know:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Eph 2

What is provoking? Troubling the nerves or peace of mind, stimulating discussion or exciting controversy.

After Israel, as a nation, rejected Christ as the Messiah and the preaching of the 12 apostles about Christ's resurrection and return with His kingdom- see Acts 7 . 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Christ saved Paul and gave him a new gospel a new dispensation.

I must say here that most Jews till today and among them even many who do receive Christ as their savior. Have great difficulty accepting or understanding the gospel that the same Christ that was on earth gave to Paul from heaven. Later we will see why!

Many see Paul as the one who lay the foundation for the present “Christianity” without even knowing what Christ told him according to the scriptures and not the tradition of man. There are today even those who reject Christ's words to Paul as we read in Romans till Philemon’s. They teach, among others, that the pure words of Christ are only in the so-called 4 gospel account as we read in Matt. Mark. Luk and John. Those Law teachers reject the doctrine that Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew means God's save is God in the flesh.   

After Paul was saved he went first to the synagogue of the Jews to provoke them into jealousy. 

Just remember that at that time there was no confused Christianity like we have today. There was no Christianity with long history of Jews prosecutions. There was only the words of God as he gave them to Paul.

  Christ gave Paul the gospel of His grace which was also for the Jew at the synagogue. This gospel tells the Jew the real things and not more the shadows.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13

So what are the truth that are part of this provocation that we are going to look at?

Christ – the son of God

Christ – is God

Christ – the end of the Law

Christ and spiritual circumcision

Abraham father of all

Jerusalem mother of all

Israel of God.

The broken wall.

Just going through Paul's first introduction letter – Galatians – will show us how important it is to know that Paul did not receive his teaching from any man but directly from Christ in heaven through revelation. Can you imagine taking Paul's words just as a man's vision without knowing that it is Christ from heaven who is talking?

Jesus Christ in the 4 gospels is God in the flesh, the son of God. A Jew under the law. Therefore we should know that the living Christ from Heaven gave Paul the dispensation of grace – it was NOT Paul's vision but Christ's revelation to him.   

It is most important to rightly divide the words of truth to understand the difference between provoking Israel during the preaching of the earthly kingdom in the so-called 4 gospels Matt. Mark Luc. And John. Acts 1-7 or provoking Israel after they already rejected the kingdom and Christ saved Paul. Acts 9-28 and Romans through Philemon.

John the Baptist – Christ our Lord

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Matt 3

37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you.38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John 8

raise up children unto Abraham - I know that ye are Abraham's seed

 .This is a great provocation. Even today most so-called religious Christians who believe in infant baptism together with those who teach children circumcision believe that those physical outward religious rituals can put you in a covenant with God.   

But what did the Lord Jesus answer them? Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John 8 what was ABRAHAM's great work?  FAITH !

After Israel as a nation rejected Christ as the messiah Paul kept provoking those Jews who became members of the new body of believers the body of Christ. After Paul went first to the synagogues of the Jews some did accept Paul's gospel and became a member of the body of Christ. To them and the other members Paul wrote.

GALATIANS 3:9 So then they which be of fai GALATIANS 3:14 That the blessing of abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. th are blessed with fait GALATIANS 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.hful abraham.

This is a great provocation to anyone who still thinks that he can be saved only on basis of the old testament promises and covenants and not through the faith of Christ

ROMANS 4:3 For what saith the scripture? abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

So what will be now a saving faith?

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor. 15