¹⁶ The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root. ¹⁸ So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you. ¹⁹ You will say, “Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.” ²⁰ That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud, but tremble. ²¹ God didn’t spare the natural branches. He won’t spare you either.

²² Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off. ²³ If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again. ²⁴ After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!