table be made a snare and a trap and a
stumbling block and a recompense unto them.

11:10. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down
their back always.

11:11. I say then: Have they so stumbled, that they should fall? God
forbid! But by their offence salvation is come to the Gentiles, that
they may be emulous of them.

That they should fall... The nation of the Jews is not absolutely and
without remedy cast off for ever; but in part only, (many thousands of
them having been at first converted,) and for a time; which fall of
theirs, God has been pleased to turn to the good of the Gentiles.

11:12. Now if the offence of them be the riches of the world and the
diminution of them the riches of the Gentiles: how much more the fulness
of them?

11:13. For I say to you, Gentiles: As long indeed as I am the apostle of
the Gentiles, I will honour my ministry,

11:14. If, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my
flesh and may save some of them.

11:15. For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what
shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

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

11:17. And if some of the branches be broken and thou, being a wild
olive, art ingrafted in them and art made partaker of the root and of
the fatness of the olive tree:

11:18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest
not the root: but the root thee.

11:19. Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off that I might be
grafted in.

11:20. Well: because of unbelief they were broken off. But thou standest
by faith. Be not highminded, but fear.

Thou standest by faith: be not highminded, but fear... We see here that
he who standeth by faith may fall from it; and therefore must live in
fear, and not in the vain presumption and security of modern sectaries.

11:21. For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest
perhaps also he spare not thee.

11:22. See then the goodness and the severity of God: towards them
indeed that are fallen, the severity; but towards thee, the goodness of
God, if thou abide in goodness. Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off... The Gentiles are here admonished
not to be proud, nor to glory against the Jews: but to take occasion
rather from their fall to fear and to be humble, lest they be cast off.
Not tha