Paul addresses the question: "Has God rejected his people?" Paul strongly refutes this notion, using his personal experience as evidence of God's faithfulness to the descendants of Abraham. His connections with Israel, Abraham, and the tribe of Benjamin serve as clear examples. God affirms that he will never cast off all the offspring of Israel, regardless of their actions (Jer. 31:37). Paul refers to the Elijah narrative in Scripture. Despite facing bleak circumstances, with prophets being killed and altars destroyed, God assured Elijah of a faithful remnant remaining in Israel through a divine utterance. Paul emphasizes that a remnant remains in his era as well. God's promise to save and preserve is rooted in grace, even for those who adhere to the law. "Israel failed" because they sought the wrong thing in the wrong way. While the "elect" remnant recognized God's faithfulness, the majority remained "hardened" due to their own waywardness, as Paul will explain in detail.

Paul turns to Scripture to explain why most Jews do not respond positively to the gospel message. This pattern can be traced back to the time of Moses and Isaiah. Despite witnessing God's salvation and blessings during their liberation from Egypt and wilderness journey, the Israelites remained stubborn in their hearts. Paul cites Psalm 69:22-23 which not only characterizes Jewish opposition to God's means of grace in Christ but also represents God's verdict.

Despite the Jews' hardness, there is still hope in God. Their opposition to Christ allowed Gentiles to receive salvation. The rejection of the gospel by Jews and its acceptance by Gentiles had the potential to make Israel jealous and prompt them to reconsider. Even when the Jews err, the blessings of God expand beyond Jewish communities, benefiting the entire world. In addressing Jewish indifference to the gospel, Paul acknowledges that he is primarily speaking to Gentiles. As the apostle to the Gentiles, he aims to evangelize and save some of his fellow Jews by stirring up jealousy and making them zealous. Witnessing the engagement and joy of Gentiles in response to the gospel may remind complacent Jews of the worthiness of wholehearted devotion to God, even if it means acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah and Lord. If the Jews' rejection of Christ and God's temporary rejection of them resulted in the reconciliation of the world, their acceptance of Christ and God's reacceptance of them would be even more significant, akin to resurrection.

Numbers 15:17-21, Israel offered dough as a contribution to the Lord, sanctifying the entire lump and partaking of it with God's blessing. The relationship between a root and its branches conveys the same idea. A holy root leads to holy fruit. The dough offered as first fruits represents the remnant who genuinely laid hold of God through faith.

However, Gentiles should not become complacent or boastful. As Paul has previously shown, this attitude lacks Christian gratitude for divine grace, humility in the face of undeserved blessings, and concern for the broken branches. Yes, Gentiles were indeed grafted in, and the Jews were unfaithful and fell. However, anyone who remains steadfast in faith does so because of grace, not personal ability, achievement, or merit.

God shows severity towards those who reject his call, denying their need for him. Yet, he has also shown kindness to Gentiles through the spread of the gospel. Gentile believers must continue in dependent faith, just as they started. Otherwise, they risk being outside God's covenant blessing, like overconfident Jews. Paul envisions what God can do with gospel-hostile Jews, grafting them back into the tree if they do not continue in unbelief. God's power surpasses human wisdom and understanding. Paul concludes in the hopes that rebellious Israel will rejoin their community of blessing.