Hebraic Root - Cultural Insights into words, action and saying of Jesus

Rev Colin Chow
01-04-2017

Calling is for ministry;
Chosen is for greatness.

God's covenant with men with Israel as the mediator:
-Abraham
-Moses
-The New Testament was first given to Jeremiah
-Davidic (not yet come to pass)

Natural Israel - Jews;
Spiritual Israel - we are all sons of Abraham

In the Old Testament, the roles of kings, priests and prophets are separate. David was king. Nathan was prophet.

In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the role of prophet, priest and king in the story of Lazarus.

Jesus was on earth for 33 years and ministered for three (3) years. 

To understand the four (4) gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), we need to go back to the history, culture, their world views and idioms, sayings, figure of speech in another time that people would not understand.

Idioms - North America:
Straight from the horse's mouth; Taking the bull by the horns; Raining dogs and cats

Over 2000 years of history, unfortunately the church have taken the sayings of Jesus simplistically and applied then to our own culture, doctrine and theology while failing to understand the true meaning of the idioms used by Jesus. 

God's covenant with Abraham is good and everlasting. That's where we got our blessing. God has never forsaken us.

From the time of Abraham to now, the river of blessing has flown 4000 years. It has become murky over the passage of time.

In Hebrews 6, God says blessing I will bless you.

We have to go back 2000 years to Jesus to drink clear water. 

John 8:3-11New International Version (NIV)
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 

Jesus saw through their hearts that they were sinners so they ran off. 

The time of this event was after John 7 where Jesus went to the feast of tabernacles. 

John 7:37-38New International Version (NIV)
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Jesus declared Himself the living water of life--that He is the Messiah.

Jeremiah 17:13New International Version (NIV)
13 Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
 Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
     because they have forsaken the Lord,
     the spring of living water. 

Where Jesus sat:
Luke 4:16-20New International Version (NIV)
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 

Jesus sat at the Seat of Moses which was reserved for the second Moses as prophesised by Moses. That's why everyone's eyes were fastened on Him and they were angry.

Deuteronomy 18:15-22New International Version (NIV)
15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Isaiah 61:1-2New International Version (NIV)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 

Two portraits of Messiah:
Messiah Ben Joseph - Suffering Servant 
Religious Messiah

Messiah Ben David - The Conquering King
Political - military Messiah

Portraits were clear. What was not clear was how both could be speaking about the same person.

Messianic Views:
Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. 

Matthew 16:13-19New International Version (NIV)

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

The blood of Jesus is still alive in Jerusalem.

153 fish:
John 21New International Version (NIV)

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

153 = I AM LORD (in Hebrew)

They were convinced that Jesus is God.

Jesus restored Peter as His chief apostle when He instructed him to feed His sheep.

Uncover his feet:
Ruth 3New International Version (NIV)

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

What is the meaning of "spread your garment over me"?
Ruth was asking Boaz to marry her.

Whenever God speaks, there is power. 

When God speaks, something significant happens.

Let's restore the fear of the Lord in our lives. For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

In the spring (Nisan), God gave three (3) feasts (historically fulfilled during Jesus' first coming):
-Passover (Jesus' death)
-Unleavened bread (burial)
-First fruits (resurrection)

-Pentecost (50 days later - in the month of Sivan) (Holy Spirit) - the church began

Fall feasts (To be fulfilled during the second coming of Jesus):
-Trumpets
-Atonement
-Tabernacles

When is Passover?
Nisan 
Exodus 12:1-2New International Version (NIV)

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ² “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.

Whose feasts are they anyway?
The Appointed feasts of the LORD.

Leviticus 23:1-2New International Version (NIV)

The Appointed Festivals

23 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

Colossians 2:16-17New International Version (NIV)

Freedom From Human Rules

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Paul said it's okay to celebrate a New Moon or Sabbath day provided we focus on Jesus for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Convocation = miqra (rehearsal/sacred assembly)

Feasts = moed (appointed times)

The Feasts are rehearsals for appointed times. 

The Feast of Passover:

Exodus 12New International Version (NIV)The Passover...
12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

The Letter of Blood:
Chet = Chai = Life

Lamb for the Nation of Bethlehem:
From special field in Bethlehem.
Meaning of Bethlehem in Hebrew is House of Bread.

Jesus was born in the house of bread because He is the Bread of Life.

The prophecy of Micah predicted Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2New International Version (NIV)

² “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.

Story of Swaddling Cloth:
Luke 2:12King James Version (KJV)

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Swaddling cloth was used to wrap dead bodies. The Jew would not bury a dead body without being wrapped in a piece of cloth. Joseph wrapped baby Jesus in a swaddling cloth.

Mary gave birth to baby Jesus amongst the straws and animals. Joseph gave a piece of swaddling cloth to Jesus to wrap the baby. When He was born, Jesus was marked for death for you and me. 

Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist:
Genealogy of John the Baptist

Luke 1:5New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

In the eyes of God, the lineage of John the Baptist, from the father's side, a high priest. His mission was to baptise Jesus.

Baptism of Jesus is symbolic transfer (righteous act of God) and consecretion of John's priesthood in the order of Aaron to Jesus the eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus now inherits the true priesthood from heaven.

The sins of the nations must be atoned by the blood of Jesus.

The Transfer of Priesthood:
-To fulfill all righteousness of God.

Matthew 3:15New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” 

Passover Lamb welcomed (Triumphant entry of Jesus on a donkey through the eastern gate):

Traditionally, four (4) days before Passover every year, the lamb has to be inspected.

"Hosanna! Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Thus, fulfilling prophecy in Zechariah.

Zechariah 9:9New International Version (NIV)

The Coming of Zion’s King

⁹ Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Came to make war.

Revelation 19:11New International Version (NIV)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

Today the Eastern Gate is sealed with cemeteries around and in front of it.

Muslims sealed the Gate because of a Messianic Prophecy. No Jewish Messiah would defile Himself.

The LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through the gate facing east.

Ezekiel 44:1-2New International Version (NIV)

The Priesthood Restored

44 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. ² The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.

By sealing the Gate, they fulfilled God’s prophecy.

Matthew 26:63-65New International Version (NIV)

⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

Jesus brought to high priest Caiaphas was not the real high priest. The latter charged Him under oath: "Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."

Jesus replied: "I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man...

The high priest tore his clothes and said: "He has spoken blasphemy. He is worthy of death." He knew he was disqualified.

Psalm 110:1New International Version (NIV)

Of David. A psalm.

¹ The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

Psalm 110:4New International Version (NIV)

⁴ The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

John 11:49-51New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year,spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

Caiaphas: "It is better for one man to die than an entire nation."

Abraham and Isaac at Mount Moriah:

Genesis 22:2New International Version (NIV)

² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Abraham's faith was unthinkable. The angel of the Lord told him to stop. He saw a ram stuck in a thorn bush.

Genesis 22:3-14New International Version (NIV)

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Temple Sacrifice:
Jesus was crucified at the same time that the lambs were being sacrificed for the Passover - between 9am and 3pm.

Sounding of the Shofar:
Jesus knows it is over. 
Jesus declared: "It is finished."

John 19:30New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The New Testament and Israel

Israel's Call is Irrevocable:
They are loved on the account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Romans 11:28-29New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, ²⁹ for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

God has brought the Jew back as a nation. And He has revealed truths to the world.

Israel must be restored and continue to serve God's purpose.

The New Testament validates the Old Testament concept of a Coming Kingdom:
Matthew 23:37-39New International Version (NIV)

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

The New Testament endorses the historical mission of Israel.

The whole story of redemption is the story of a strong God and a weak nation.

God used their belief and unbelief to accomplish His purposes.

No one in history ever got saved other than through the cross of Jesus.

In their belief, they gave us the Bible.

In their unbelief, they gave us the Messiah.

Jesus said in John 4:22: "Salvation is from the Jews.” The Gift and blessing of Salvation comes from the Jewish people.
God works it out from the beginning - from Abraham.

In Abraham, God promised the world eternal life; in Isaac, God promised the world atonement or sacrifice (The lamb, Jesus); and in Jacob, God promised the world transformation and reconciliation. (Jacob was rebellious and a tempter/deceiver, thus he needed transformation)

Romans 11:26New International Version (NIV)
26 and in this way  all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

Affirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant:
Hebrews 6:13-18New International Version (NIV)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. ¹⁷ Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

God is completely trustworthy with His covenant because He swore by two unchangeable things - His sovereignty (No one is greater than Him) and His character (that He cannot lie).

Jesus came to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant:
Genesis 22:16-18New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Hebrews 13:20New International Version (NIV)

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

Luke 1:72-73New International Version (NIV)

⁷² to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

Zacharias praised God for His Holy Covenant and oath He swore to father Abraham.

Galatians 3:8-9New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ⁹ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

God preached the Gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." We are the seed of Abraham. We are blessed along with Abraham.

The New Testament validates and reinforces Israel's role in history and her destiny in the land of Canaan.

Natural and Spiritual Israel:

Romans 2:28-29New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Paul did not discard natural Israel nor their destiny and historical mission. Spiritual Israel are all who have faith in Israel. We are all spiritual Israel.
 

Romans 3:1-4New International Version (NIV)

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

³ What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”

Natural Israel remains custodian of God’s Word.

The Olive Tree:
Jews are natural branches.

Gentile believers are wild olive shoot grafted into the tree.

Jewish Old Testament saints (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc) - Hebrews 11 are the hall of fame of faith - they were the first on the Jewish olive tree of belief.

Gentile believers are not to be arrogant/haughty towards non-believing natural Israel but to fear. Have the fear of the Lord.

There is only one tree: one flock, one sheep pen, one family. (Believing Jew and Gentile - the one new man)

Romans 11:24New International Version (NIV)
24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

The relationship between church and Israel is life and death.

Take a living branch from a living tree and graft it onto a dying tree and make it alive again. Water it over time.

Instantly you get salvation. 

Galatians 6:15-16New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

The Israel of God - another term for spiritual Israel. "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation."

The church has enlarged Israel.

Israel is the root of the church.

Israel is the vehicle of worldwide redemption, mediator of the Great Covenants God gave to the world.

Restoration of Natural Israel:
When Gentile blindness of Israel's role and destiny are removed:

Romans 11:24-26New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, ²⁶ and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

Life from dead - physical (return of Jesus) and spiritual (worldwide revival).

Related:
Passover – A Sign of Israel; Preparation of Jesus for the Cross

Hebraic Perspective in Understanding the FATHER'S HEART in HIS WORD for HIS Children

Jesus the Jewish Messiah

The Threefold Calling

Pentecost