21. God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think he will spare you?
22. Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe towards those who have fallen, but kind to you — if you continue in his kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off.
23. And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were; for God is able to do that.
24. You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree. The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again.
25. There is a secret truth, my brothers and sisters, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God.
26. And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says:“The Saviour will come from Zionand remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.
27. I will make this covenant with themwhen I take away their sins.”
28. Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.
29. For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.
30. As for you Gentiles, you disobeyed God in the past; but now you have received God's mercy because the Jews were disobedient.