1 Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things.
2 Now we know that God's judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God's judgment?
4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance?
There are several ways of looking at Romans 2. (I’ve gleaned these from other readings and study.) At least three possible breakdowns of this chapter are as follows
Four Witnesses Against the Jews:
1) Gentiles - seeing the Jews Hypocrisy - vss. 2:1-3
2) God’s Blessings - which Jews rejected - vss. 2:4-11
3) God’s Law - Jews ignored - vss. 2:12-24
4) Circumcision - the act does not save - vss. 2:25-29
This is not my favorite analysis. Paul gives a thorough treatment of Jews in chapters 3-6.
We Have Earned Condemnation:
1) Condemnation of the moralists - vss. 2:1-16
2) Condemnation of Jews - vss. 2:17-29
This analysis continues the train of thought begun in chapter one, the wrath of God is because we have ignored and rejected the evidence God has provided.
Judgements Against the World Based on:
1) Judged on the Intent of people; you will be judged by your own standards - vss. 2:1-5
2) Judged by their deeds; seeking good or seeking evil - vss. 2:6-10
3) Judged without partiality; Law or not, no one escapes. - vss. 2:11-16
4) Judged by your Hypocrisy; you say, but don’t do - vss. 2:17-29
Almost everyone can read the last half of Romans 1 and think, “Thank God I am not as bad as those people.” Paul is showing us we are not as good as we think we are, even though we may not be depraved. It is easy to look at the world in general, cluck our tongues at the depravity of the world. No one has an excuse, not Gentiles, not Jews; not those who have God’s blessings and Laws; not even those who have taken on circumcision as a symbol or sign of belonging to God. We are reminded to not think too highly of ourselves (Rom. 12:3).
***Vs. 1 - “when you judge someone else” - Be careful how you make judgments. You are held to the same standard. You condemn yourself because you do what you accuse others of doing. It is so easy to look at the descent into depravity and think, “But I am not like those people.” We fool ourselves, because we want to believe we are better than we really are. No one escapes judgment based on their own righteousness. Jesus tells a parable regarding this very thing.
(See: Luke 18:9-14) One of the people thought, “I am not like those sinners!” The other sought mercy.
You think you are better than those sinners? You are not!
I think there is some basic misunderstanding about the subject of ‘judging’. There is a difference between “discernment” and “judging”. We are to be able to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. (See: Heb. 5:12-14) How else will we govern our own behavior? Those types of decisions are based on discernment.
We are not to determine whether someone else is going to hell becau>se of their actions. We are passing judgment when we decide that someone is ‘bad enough’ to be sentenced to eternal separation. That is not our purview - it is God’s decision alone. Only He knows the motive and spiritual condition of each person.
“because you who judge practice the same things” - Have you noticed in our political climate, that those who scream “racist” the most are indeed the most racist individuals? They would hotly deny it. There is the popular trope of the pastor who rails against adultery is most likely an adulterer himself. The person who demands the rich pay “their fair share” of taxes is the person who works hardest to be sure he is paying the smallest amount of taxes possible. We recognize pride in another because we know the pride within ourselves. We see the anger in another because it percolates in our hearts.
Vs. 2 - “we know that God's judgment” - You know that God knows. He sees what you do. God does not bring judgement against phantom sin. You sin because you are a sinner; it is what you do. It is who you are. He does not hold you responsible for my sin, or for your brother’s sin, or for your child’s sin. You alone are responsible to pay for your sin. The is no “splatter” of God’s judgement. Judgement of another does not slop over on to you. Judgement against you does not overspray on to others. (See: Ezek. 18:19-20) “The righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”
Vs. 3 - “that you will escape God's judgment?” - No one escapes (See: Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:12-14) The hypocrisy of the situation is clear. (See: Matt. 7:3-5) We fool ourselves into thinking we can get away with our sins. Perhaps He isn’t looking, or paying attention.
Vs. 4 - “do you have contempt” - Or as some translations read, “do you think lightly”. When the laws are not enforced, we become scofflaws. For example: You are cruising down the freeway, 70-75 mph. People in front of you begin braking, dropping down to 60-65. Well, how about that, a traffic cop parked along the road. Suddenly, everyone “feels the need” for no speed. Or when you come to a stop sign at a country intersection, do you stop or do you totally slow down? Or, why do you think cities put up the red light cameras?
These are minor examples, but show how we s-t-r-e-a-c-h the law when we think no one is looking, or there are no immediate consequences. Try rolling through a stop sign when a traffic cop is there. (Been there. Done that. Paid the ticket.) I think part of the problem we have in keeping God’s laws is because the consequences of disobedience seems so far away in the future. We can convince ourselves it really doesn’t really matter. We tell ourselves God is not a ‘sin radar’ traffic cop sitting along our road of life - so every time we see Him, we make adjustments.
It is not only that we are deliberately disobedient, but negligently so. God is spirit, and we don’t always think of Him as being near, observing the way we live. We ignore Heb. 4:13, at our peril - “wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience” - based on how we perceive God’s love for us. His moral goodness (aka: kindness) is demonstrated (See: Tit. 3:4; Gen. 5:22). His tolerance (aka: forbearance) (See: Rom. 3:25), and His patience (i.e., steadfastness, or slowness to avenge wrongs) are shown. (See also: Exo. 34:6-7; Rom. 9:22; Gal. 5:22)
This is no impecunious god. The wealth of God matches His power (omnipotence) and His love “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psa. 136:1-26).
“God's kindness leads you to repentance” - If you had been insulted as God has been by our actions and disbelief, you would have wiped out the whole thing. Burned it to a crisp and started over, saying, “They just weren’t worth the trouble!” But that is not God our Savior. He has shown us the way of life. He has beckoned us in love. He waits patiently for us to respond positively. Paul acknowledges offers the way, and waits patiently.(See: 1 Tim. 1:15-16)
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