Matthew Henry Commentary Romans 11:11-21

"I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. Now if their fall, is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry; if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [them that are] my flesh, and may save some of them. For if the casting away of them [is] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead? And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree; glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee." — Romans 11:11-21 (ASV)

The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is present. Therefore, as the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews was the occasion for such a large multitude of the Gentiles being reconciled to God and at peace with him, the future receiving of the Jews into the church would be such a change that it would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness. Abraham was like the root of the church.

The Jews continued as branches of this tree until, as a nation, they rejected the Messiah; after that, their relation to Abraham and to God was, as it were, cut off. The Gentiles were grafted into this tree in their place, being admitted into the church of God. Multitudes were made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness, and blessedness. It is the natural state of every one of us, to be wild by nature.

Conversion is like the grafting in of wild branches into the good olive tree. The wild olive was often grafted into the fruitful one when it began to decay, and this not only brought forth fruit but also caused the decaying olive to revive and flourish. The Gentiles, of free grace, had been grafted in to share advantages. They ought, therefore, to beware of self-confidence, and every kind of pride or ambition; lest, having only a dead faith, and an empty profession, they should turn from God and forfeit their privileges.

If we stand at all, it is by faith. We are guilty and helpless in ourselves, and are to be humble, watchful, afraid of self-deception, or of being overcome by temptation. Not only are we at first justified by faith, but also kept to the end in that justified state by faith only; yet, by a faith which is not alone, but which works by love to God and man.