The primacy of choice

One of the messages of the allegory of the olive tree is how universal agency is in the plan. Notice that no matter how much care the gardener takes all of the olive branches, both natural and wild, have seasons of bringing forth good fruit and yielding bitter fruit. The Lord of the vineyard can’t simply set them on the course to good fruit and then let them go. He has to continually work to redeem them as they drift toward bearing bitter fruit.