“12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”
Paul asks us to imagine: If something as great as Gentiles coming to salvation can be accomplished from the failures of Israel and their transgression of God’s Law, what more might God accomplish with the redemption of Israel in His perfect timing? Paul, being an evangelist primarily to the Gentiles, speaks of how even he is participating in God’s plan to save Israel by making them jealous.
What does Paul mean: “…what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” (v.15b) How is it that the acceptance of Israel by God will result in nothing short of life from the dead? It is like the story of the prodigal son, a parable given to us by Jesus. For the whole story, see Luke 15:11-31. The conclusion of the story is where we want to focus. When the prodigal son returns to his father’s house after his time abroad, enjoying his lavish and sinful lifestyle and quickly wasting away his inheritance, you might expect that his father would be angry or disappointed in his son. Not so. Look at how the father responds:
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.” — Luke 15:22-24
“‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” — Luke 15:32
It’s not difficult to imagine Israel as the prodigal son. It’s true that this parable fits well for any person. Every Christian is the prodigal son. Every Christian was once living a lifestyle that would only lead to ruin and death. And each of us, when we came to God on our knees, by His good grace and calling, were likewise forgiven, clothed, and brought into the family by the Father, much like the prodigal son. The point is this: While Israel has been away enjoying its idols and squandering its inheritance, God has brought many of the Gentiles to salvation. Imagine the blessings that will be reaped when God’s chosen nation humbles itself and returns to God. What a great day that will be when the chosen remnant of Israel will be saved! It will be like a person who was presumed dead being found alive, or like a child who is lost and now has been found.