Trees 2 - Romans 11:18-31

If the wild olive tree branches are grafted into the tame olive tree trunk after the natural branches have died off, does that make the wild branches more important or more special than the original branches? I mean, they are trees and therefore have no thoughts or feelings, but if we equate this to what we discussed yesterday with the tame tree trunk being the gospel, the natural dead cut off branches being Israel, and the wild branches grafted in being gentiles, then we can see how it would easily relate to the human condition. An adopted person or someone who is now included in a group might feel like they are more “worthy” of the appointment than the previous person and might treat the rejected person poorly because of their feelings of superiority. This is completely false however.

Paul can see the issues of conflict and persecution arising between the converted gentile Christians and the Jews, and warns them. He says, “boast not against the branches… thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” Kind of like “they got rid of you to make room for me,” which wasn’t the case, and Paul tells them that the broken branches were rejected “because of unbelief” but if the grafted branches adopted an attitude of persecution, then they will be broken off as well. Like wise, if the natural, cut off branches, “abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.” God has the power to bring back those who accept him into the gospel. So he’s removing the perception of power from the people who accept him, to retain it completely for himself.
The IM teaches that Paul was warning the newly converted gentile Christians “to be humble and faithful and not to think that they were better than Jews who had not embraced the gospel. Paul explained that by showing mercy and kindness to the Jewish people, Gentile Christians could prepare the way for Jews to eventually embrace the gospel and receive the Lord’s mercy.” This is the case for all people, really. People join groups or causes that make them feel good, especially if the dividends are spiritual or simply personally fulfilling.
People can make themselves do a lot of different things for money, but for personal satisfaction, people expend their own disposable time on things that make them feel good, and they aren’t going to join a group that dislikes them or treats them poorly. So it’s not just a matter of gentile Christians treating Jews well, it’s really a call for all of us to treat everyone well, because that’s the only way that they might eventually become open to any sort of gospel message. I’m a believer in 2 sayings, both of which seem to be pertinent right now. First, “no one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” And the second one, “live your life so that people will want to know Christ because they know you.” This is my missionary philosophy, and it seems to tie in nice to what Paul is trying to say.
I’m not really sure exactly what Paul is saying for the rest of the chapter, but this is pretty much all I can understand at this point.