Category Archives: Pruning

Older woman smiling and man with a serious expression standing indoors
Bible, Gentiles, Israel, Kindness, Production, Pruning, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

KINDNESS AND SEVERITY

ROMANS 11:22

“See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off.”

When I hear the word “kindness,” certain people’s faces come to mind. Some people just have that gift or should I say choose to exercise it well. And when I think of the word “severity,” other faces pop up. Those I don’t like so much. They are not much fun to be around.

Paul is still in the midst of describing the relationship of unbelieving Jews as compared to the believing Gentiles. One was pruned away to make room for the other. The words Paul uses in today’s verse, “kindness” and “severity” further paint the picture for us. Let’s look at what Paul was referring to by using these two words.

APPLICATION

First, Paul uses the Greek word xrēstótēs which HELPS Word-studies describes this way, “(useful kindness) refers to meeting real needs, in God’s way, in His timing (fashion).” It is listed in Galatians 5:22 as a fruit of the Spirit. So, we know this must come from God, right? Paul uses it three times in this verse alone. He must have wanted to drive a point home. Keep in mind that the idea of a kind god was foreign to Gentiles. Even most of the Jews tended to believe more in a harsh God rather than a kind one.

But how about that other word, “severity”? Surely, that isn’t from God. Actually, the Greek word isn’t as severe as it sounds. I need to share Barnes’ description of this word. “The word ‘severity’ now suggests sometimes the idea of harshness, or even of cruelty. (Webster.) But nothing of this kind is conveyed in the original word here. It properly denotes ‘cutting off,’ apotomian from apotemnō, to cut off; and is commonly applied to the act of the gardener or vine-dresser in trimming trees or vines, and cutting off the decayed or useless branches. Here it refers to the act of God in cutting off or rejecting the Jews as useless branches; and conveys no idea of injustice, cruelty, or harshness.”

If you just looked at the process of pruning, it does look severe. It looks like you’re cutting off all the good stuff. But this act gives room for new growth. In this instance, it was for the engrafting of the Gentiles into the root plant. Paul is making sure the Gentiles know their place and how they got there. He also wants them to know it is just as important to stay in that relationship. The same applies to us, brothers and sisters. Enjoy the kindness of God, but do not confuse kindness with meekness. God will hold us all accountable for our actions should we choose to ignore Him.

Father, thank You for Your kindness toward me and for the pruning You do to make me more productive.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Man trimming branches of olive tree with pruning shears in orchard
Bible, Gentiles, Israel, Pruning, Purpose, Romans, Scripture

MISUNDERSTANDINGS

ROMANS 11:19

“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’”

Isn’t it amazing that one event can be interpreted so differently by people? They each see it from their own perspective and make their own assumptions. If you came upon a car crash, you might assume certain things about the drivers. Was one under the influence? Was one on their phone? Unless you know all the facts, your opinion of any incident is just that – your opinion. Misunderstandings happen due to lack of knowledge.

Paul brings up a misunderstanding that may have existed among the Gentile believers. We’ll see this discussed over the next few verses. As I mentioned yesterday, some Gentiles were claiming superiority over the Jews since God had given them this message of salvation after His rejection of the Jews who had refused His Son. Remember, these Gentiles didn’t have the knowledge of the Scriptures that showed God’s plan was to use the Jewish nation to reach the world. They were only seeing the current situation. Context is always important.

APPLICATION

The Topical Lexicon says, “Paul addresses Gentile believers tempted to view Jewish unbelief as proof that God had shifted His favor permanently. To correct this arrogance, he recalls that unfaithful Israelite branches ‘were broken off’ (Romans 11:17, 19, 20) so that Gentiles might be grafted in by faith. The verb occurs only in this paragraph, underscoring the deliberate and solemn nature of the divine action.” The practice of breaking off unproductive branches of an olive tree to make room for more productive ones was one the people could understand. They may have even done this to their own olive trees. The tree was still there along with the other branches.

The breaking off of these branches Paul is referring to has a specific purpose. You really need to see this. Pruning or breaking off these branches had a missionary purpose. Remember back in Romans 11:11 Paul said it was to make Israel jealous and desire to return to the Lord. That is still true today. Israel still has a role to play in our eschatological future.

Let me ask you something about your spiritual life. Do you have unproductive branches that are sucking life from you? We engage in so many things that really have no spiritual purpose. Those can literally cause your more productive branches to wither. You may need to prune back your rec time for more prayer time. You might need to give up something else to spend more time in the Word. Prune your own life to make room for more production spiritually.

Father, give me wisdom to know what to prune in order to produce more for You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard