The Branches of the Olive Tree That Were Broken Off

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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A careful reading of Rom. 11, the Chapter that takes up the condition of the Jewish nation as symbolized by the olive tree, will show the contrast between the privileges of the Jews and those of the Gentiles. This Scripture does not take up the case of an individual, so much as nationally with the Jew, and worldwide with the Gentile. The blessings were at first lodged with Abraham, and through him descended to the Jewish nation. But what did the Jewish nation do with all its privileges, and they were many, chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God (Rom. 3:22Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2))?
When our Lord came with all the grace and love of God in His heart, going about doing good, and undoing the works of the devil (1 John 3:88He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)) how did the nation respond to all this wealth of kindness and goodness? They put our Lord on a gibbet, mocked His dying agonies, and crucified Him.
This is delineated in the parable of the householder, who planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen. When the time came for the husbandmen to receive of the fruits of his vineyard, his servants were beaten, stoned and some killed. What did the husbandman do after such vile treatment? Spite of it all we read the astonishing news that he sent his son, saying, They will reverence my son (Matt. 21:3737But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. (Matthew 21:37)).
But what did they do? They seized the opportunity to slay his son, and thus obtain the inheritance. In this is vividly portrayed the way prophet after prophet of the coming Christ was treated, as narrated in Old Testament history; and how God in loving kindness beyond measure sent His only begotten Son, whom they crucified, and cast Him out of the world His own hands had made. Nay more, God took occasion of man's blackest crime to turn it into an expression of His wonderful love, inasmuch as our Lord died to meet the whole question of sin, to enable God righteously to proclaim His mercy and longsuffering to guilty man. For near two thousand years the day of wondrous grace has been prolonged.
But it will not always be so. In the parable the question is asked as how the husbandman would act when he should return to his vineyard. We read, "They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons." (Matt. 21:4141They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. (Matthew 21:41)).
All this was prophetic, and much of it has already happened to the Jewish nation. The Jews are scattered among the nations. Jerusalem was destroyed. Its Temple overthrown, not one stone standing upon another, fulfilling the prophecy of our Lord (Luke 21:66As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)). The natural branches of the olive tree have been broken off. God's grace has gone out the Gentiles, as the Acts of the Apostles so fully testify. Gentile branches have been grafted into the olive tree.