14. Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them.
15. If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.
16. If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy.
17. But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.
18. So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you.
19. “Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.”
20. That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid.
21. If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either.
22. Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off ⌊from the tree⌋.