An Overview of Romans 11:11-32
A Sermon on the Meaning of Romans 11
Scripture
11I 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. 12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches …
Sermon Description
Paul has been teaching about the Jews and how as a nation they have blatantly rejected the gospel. In this portion of Romans, Paul is now stating what the real position of the Jews is and how that relates to the Gentiles. In this sermon on Romans 11:11–12 titled “Stumbling of the Jews,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the Jews stumbled so that the Gentiles could come to salvation. Not only was their stumbling permitted by God, he also inflicted them with blindness so that the Gentiles could have the opportunity to believe. This rejection of the Jews gave the blessings to the Gentiles. So have the Jews been cast away forever? Paul says that they have not. They have in turn seen the blessings of the gentiles and have been provoked to jealousy. This causes them to think twice and consider the gospel that the Lord has given.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul begins by stating his theme in verses 11-12. His theme is that the rejection of Israel is not final.
- Paul asks if Israel has stumbled so as to fall completely and irreversibly. He answers "God forbid" - this is impossible.
- Paul says Israel has only stumbled temporarily, not fallen irreversibly.
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Paul gives a threefold answer as to why Israel has stumbled:
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It has happened so that salvation may come to the Gentiles.
- It has provoked Israel to jealousy and emulation of the Gentiles' blessings.
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It will ultimately bring Israel as a nation to believe the gospel.
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The rejection of the gospel by Israel sent it to the Gentiles.
- The gospel produced blessing in the Gentiles, provoking Israel's jealousy.
- Israel's jealousy will ultimately bring them to believe the gospel.
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There is a circle: Israel rejects the gospel, it goes to Gentiles, Gentiles are blessed, Israel is provoked to jealousy, Israel believes.
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Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21, saying God will provoke Israel to jealousy through those who are not a nation.
- Paul says "jealousy" and "emulation" mean essentially the same thing here. Jealousy is negative but leads to emulation, a desire for the same blessings.
- Individual Jews have been provoked to jealousy, but Paul looks ahead to the nation as a whole being provoked.
- The stumbling of Israel allows the gospel to go to the Gentiles, which will ultimately bring Israel back.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.