The Terms Defined

Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 602 Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

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Summary

In Romans 11:16–17, Paul provides more evidence of why the rejection of Israel was not final. Israel's stumbling was only temporary and because of their fall, the gentiles have received salvation. Paul explains that Israel's belief will be like coming to life from death. In this passage, he uses two illustrations to explain the Jews’ and the Gentiles’ relationship to the truth. In this sermon on Romans 11:16–17 titled “The Terms Defined,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones breaks down both illustrations and defines the words and context of the words. In essence, if one is part of the whole, and the whole is holy, then they, too, are also holy. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the term “holy” does not always mean sinless, but it means set apart by God. Some parts of the "dough" or "branches" (as used in the illustrations) have been cut off, but can once again be grafted in and take the blessings of the whole. God has the power to remove something once and for all, but He can also graft a part back into the whole. This is what will be done with the Jews. It will be a glorious day when all of Christ’s followers and those who believe the true gospel will be raised up and reunited with the whole.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I should like to call your attention this evening to verses 16 and 17 in the 11th chapter
0:07.4	of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, two of the verses that we read in the reading just now.
0:14.7	Verses 16 and 17 in the 11th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Roman.
0:22.6	For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy.
0:28.9	And if the root be holy, so are the branches.
0:34.5	And if some of the branches be broken off,
0:41.7	and thou being a wild olive tree were it grafted in among them,
0:49.2	and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, we must go on to complete,
0:57.4	boast not against the branches, but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
1:04.2	But as I say, I'm anxious tonight to consider, in particular verses 16 and 17.
1:15.6	Now here, most of you, I'm sure, will recall, we are commencing the consideration of a subsection in the section which runs from verse 11 to verse 32.
1:22.6	You remember, we have divided up the whole chapter into three main divisions.
1:28.2	The first division was from verse 1 to verse 10.
1:32.7	The second division is from verse 11 to verse 32,
1:37.8	and then the final section of division, verse 33 to the end of the chapter, which is that great doxology at the end of
1:48.0	the tremendous argument that the apostle has been working out.
1:51.4	Now, it's very important, obviously, that when we come to any particular subsection of a
1:58.4	division, that we should be clear in our minds as to what the division
2:03.6	is about.
2:04.6	So I would remind you it's essential that we should do so in interpreting these two verses,
2:10.6	which some commentators don't hesitate to describe as the two most difficult verses in the
2:16.6	whole of the Bible, and that is why this instrument
	...

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