The Olive Tree Warning
Journey's Road Map • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Text: Romans 11:17–24 (ESV)
Text: Romans 11:17–24 (ESV)
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Theme: Salvation is a gift of grace that should produce humility, not pride.
Theme: Salvation is a gift of grace that should produce humility, not pride.
Introduction – Why Not to Be Overconfident
Introduction – Why Not to Be Overconfident
There’s a funny story about a kindergarten teacher on the last day of school.
There’s a funny story about a kindergarten teacher on the last day of school.
The children were bringing gifts.
The children were bringing gifts.
The florist’s son handed her a package. She shook it, lifted it over her head, and said,
The florist’s son handed her a package. She shook it, lifted it over her head, and said,
“I bet I know what this is… flowers.”
“I bet I know what this is… flowers.”
“That’s right,” the boy said. “But how did you know?”
“That’s right,” the boy said. “But how did you know?”
“Oh, just a wild guess.”
“Oh, just a wild guess.”
Next came the candy store owner’s daughter. The teacher shook the gift and said,
Next came the candy store owner’s daughter. The teacher shook the gift and said,
“I’m guessing a box of sweets.”
“I’m guessing a box of sweets.”
“That’s right!” the girl said.
“That’s right!” the girl said.
The third gift came from the liquor store owner’s son. The teacher noticed the package was leaking. She touched the liquid, tasted a drop, and asked,
The third gift came from the liquor store owner’s son. The teacher noticed the package was leaking. She touched the liquid, tasted a drop, and asked,
“Is it wine?”
“Is it wine?”
“No.”
“No.”
She tried again.
She tried again.
“Champagne?”
“Champagne?”
“No.”
“No.”
Finally she took a bigger taste and said, “Alright, I give up… what is it?”
Finally she took a bigger taste and said, “Alright, I give up… what is it?”
The boy smiled and said,
The boy smiled and said,
“It’s a puppy!”
“It’s a puppy!”
That’s a great example of overconfidence.
That’s a great example of overconfidence.
Sometimes when we think we know exactly what’s going on… we’re completely wrong.
Sometimes when we think we know exactly what’s going on… we’re completely wrong.
And that’s the warning Paul gives in Romans 11.
And that’s the warning Paul gives in Romans 11.
Gentile believers had begun to think, “We’re in, and Israel is out.”
Gentile believers had begun to think, “We’re in, and Israel is out.”
Paul says: Slow down. Don’t get proud about grace.
Paul says: Slow down. Don’t get proud about grace.
Point 1 — Grace Grafts Us into God’s Family (vv. 17–18)
Point 1 — Grace Grafts Us into God’s Family (vv. 17–18)
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others…”
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others…”
Explanation
Explanation
Paul uses the image of an olive tree, a familiar symbol for Israel in the Old Testament.
Paul uses the image of an olive tree, a familiar symbol for Israel in the Old Testament.
The root represents God’s covenant promises.
The root represents God’s covenant promises.
The natural branches represent Israel.
The natural branches represent Israel.
Some branches were broken off because of unbelief.
Some branches were broken off because of unbelief.
Gentiles are described as wild branches grafted in.
Gentiles are described as wild branches grafted in.
In agriculture, grafting normally joins a cultivated branch into a wild tree.
In agriculture, grafting normally joins a cultivated branch into a wild tree.
Paul flips the image.
Paul flips the image.
God took wild branches (Gentiles) and grafted them into His covenant tree.
God took wild branches (Gentiles) and grafted them into His covenant tree.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Ephesians 2:12–13 — Gentiles brought near by the blood of Christ
Ephesians 2:12–13 — Gentiles brought near by the blood of Christ
John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches.”
John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches.”
Illustration – Orchard Grafting
Illustration – Orchard Grafting
Farmers graft branches so the new branch shares the life of the tree.
Farmers graft branches so the new branch shares the life of the tree.
The branch does not sustain the root.
The branch does not sustain the root.
The root sustains the branch.
The root sustains the branch.
Paul says:
Paul says:
“Remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”
“Remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”
Quote — John Stott
Quote — John Stott
“The church does not replace Israel; it shares in the promises given to Israel.”
“The church does not replace Israel; it shares in the promises given to Israel.”
Application
Application
Salvation is not something we achieved.
Salvation is not something we achieved.
We were grafted in by grace.
We were grafted in by grace.
And grace should produce humility, not pride.
And grace should produce humility, not pride.
Point 2 — Pride Can Lead to Being Cut Off (vv. 19–22)
Point 2 — Pride Can Lead to Being Cut Off (vv. 19–22)
“They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.”
“They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.”
Explanation
Explanation
Paul warns Gentile believers not to become arrogant.
Paul warns Gentile believers not to become arrogant.
Israel’s branches were removed because of unbelief, not because Gentiles were superior.
Israel’s branches were removed because of unbelief, not because Gentiles were superior.
Paul says something sobering:
Paul says something sobering:
“If God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.”
“If God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.”
This is not teaching that believers lose salvation.
This is not teaching that believers lose salvation.
It is a warning against false confidence without faith.
It is a warning against false confidence without faith.
Faith keeps us connected to Christ.
Faith keeps us connected to Christ.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Hebrews 3:12 — “Take care lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart.”
Hebrews 3:12 — “Take care lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart.”
1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Illustration – The Cliff Edge
Illustration – The Cliff Edge
A man hiking near a cliff might feel confident, but the closer he gets to the edge, the more cautious he becomes.
A man hiking near a cliff might feel confident, but the closer he gets to the edge, the more cautious he becomes.
Healthy fear is not panic—it is awareness.
Healthy fear is not panic—it is awareness.
Paul says believers should walk with humble reverence, not careless pride.
Paul says believers should walk with humble reverence, not careless pride.
Quote — Charles Spurgeon
Quote — Charles Spurgeon
“Humility is the badge of true Christianity.”
“Humility is the badge of true Christianity.”
Application
Application
Grace should make us grateful, not arrogant.
Grace should make us grateful, not arrogant.
When we remember we were rescued—not superior—we remain humble.
When we remember we were rescued—not superior—we remain humble.
Point 3 — God’s Mercy Is Powerful Enough to Restore (vv. 23–24)
Point 3 — God’s Mercy Is Powerful Enough to Restore (vv. 23–24)
“And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in…”
“And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in…”
Explanation
Explanation
Paul now reveals something hopeful.
Paul now reveals something hopeful.
The story of Israel is not over.
The story of Israel is not over.
God is able to graft natural branches back into their own tree.
God is able to graft natural branches back into their own tree.
If Gentiles could be grafted into a tree they did not belong to, how much easier for God to restore Israel.
If Gentiles could be grafted into a tree they did not belong to, how much easier for God to restore Israel.
The door of mercy is still open.
The door of mercy is still open.
Cross-References
Cross-References
Zechariah 12:10 — Israel will look on the one they pierced
Zechariah 12:10 — Israel will look on the one they pierced
Romans 11:26 — “All Israel will be saved”
Romans 11:26 — “All Israel will be saved”
Illustration – The Broken Branch
Illustration – The Broken Branch
A gardener once broke a branch while trimming a tree. Instead of throwing it away, he carefully grafted it back. Weeks later it began to grow again.
A gardener once broke a branch while trimming a tree. Instead of throwing it away, he carefully grafted it back. Weeks later it began to grow again.
What looked lost was restored.
What looked lost was restored.
God’s mercy works the same way.
God’s mercy works the same way.
Quote — C.S. Lewis
Quote — C.S. Lewis
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, but shouts in our pains.”
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, but shouts in our pains.”
Application
Application
No one is beyond restoration.
No one is beyond restoration.
If unbelief removed branches, faith can restore them.
If unbelief removed branches, faith can restore them.
God’s mercy is stronger than our failures.
God’s mercy is stronger than our failures.
Conclusion — Grace Should Make Us Humble
Conclusion — Grace Should Make Us Humble
Romans 11:17–24 teaches three lessons:
Romans 11:17–24 teaches three lessons:
Grace grafts us into God’s family.
Grace grafts us into God’s family.
Pride can lead to spiritual danger.
Pride can lead to spiritual danger.
God’s mercy is powerful enough to restore.
God’s mercy is powerful enough to restore.
The church should never look at others and say, “We belong and they don’t.”
The church should never look at others and say, “We belong and they don’t.”
We belong because of grace.
We belong because of grace.
Final Reflection
Final Reflection
The olive tree reminds us of something important:
The olive tree reminds us of something important:
We are not the root of the story.
We are not the root of the story.
God is.
God is.
And the same grace that brought us in is the grace that keeps us standing.
And the same grace that brought us in is the grace that keeps us standing.
There was an arm wrestling trend going on at my high school during my junior year, and there was an all star athlete on my basketball team we called Pat who was very cocky. He wasn’t the best on the team at basketball, but he started in every single sport and he was absolutely jacked for a 17 yr old. One day he challenges this semi mentally handicapped kid at our school to an arm wrestling match over who gets to use this particular tool in shop. This kid is pretty big, but he’s a bit slow so he got teased a lot. Anyways they get set up, everyone’s watching, and the match starts. 15 seconds go by and Pat couldn’t move this kid’s arm at all. He just sat there smiling at Pat and watched the smug and cocky attitude disappear. Then he easily pinned his arm and let Pat use the tool anyways. He walked away humming to himself like usual. What a boss.
There was an arm wrestling trend going on at my high school during my junior year, and there was an all star athlete on my basketball team we called Pat who was very cocky. He wasn’t the best on the team at basketball, but he started in every single sport and he was absolutely jacked for a 17 yr old. One day he challenges this semi mentally handicapped kid at our school to an arm wrestling match over who gets to use this particular tool in shop. This kid is pretty big, but he’s a bit slow so he got teased a lot. Anyways they get set up, everyone’s watching, and the match starts. 15 seconds go by and Pat couldn’t move this kid’s arm at all. He just sat there smiling at Pat and watched the smug and cocky attitude disappear. Then he easily pinned his arm and let Pat use the tool anyways. He walked away humming to himself like usual. What a boss.
