Romans 2:17-24 - Your Actions Betray Your Lack of Faith

Or: Jews Who Do not follow law. ***

Paul continues on this thought train - we all need Jesus. Up to this point any reference to the Jews has been tangential. Paul began to focus on the Jews and the Law in the last paragraph when he notes that Gentiles may follow God’s Law without actually being Jewish. But what about the Jews who do not follow God’s Law? Paul has an answer...

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17 But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

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You Claim to be a Jew...

V. 17-20 - “if you bear the name ‘Jew’" - The sarcasm here is so intense, it is a wonder the ink did not eat through the paper (parchment?). Look at the accusations Paul lays before the Jews.

You Jews claim that you:
- Rely upon the Law
- You know God
- Know His will
- Approve things that are essential
- Are instructed from the Law
- Are confident you are a guide to the blind
- Are a light to those in darkness
- A corrector of the foolish
- A teacher of the immature
- Have the embodiment of knowledge and truth

There is a certain amount of schadenfreude as we see Paul grab the Jews by the front of their shirt and slap them silly. In truth, Paul’s words hit too close to home for Christians. We also take a holier-than-thou attitude in dealing with others. Look back to verses 2:1-2 - We are without excuse. Jesus also warned us. See Matt. 7:3-5; Luk. 6:41-42.

You can almost hear the Jews proclaim, “We are Jews! We cannot be depraved! After all, we have the LAW!”

V. 21 - “do you not teach yourself?” - Do you pay any attention to what you are saying? You claim you can teach others what they need to know. Where’s the evidence you have learned from your own teaching? 

Paul gives examples in the following verses:

“Do you steal?” - Example number one. Commandment number 8, (Exo. 20:15). God chastises the Jews, accuses them of stealing from Him. How? They steal when they do not offer the proper tithes. They are cheating God out of what is due Him. (See: Lev. 19:13; Psa. 50:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 7:11; 15:5; 23:14-20)

V. 22 - “do you commit adultery?” - Example number two. Commandment number 7, (Exo. 20:14) Is adultery a serious sin? It must be, since it is one of the 10 given to Moses to teach the people of Israel. Beyond that, we see many times in the OT disloyalty to God is treated as adultery. Adultery is sex outside of marriage - a married person having sex with someone to whom they are not married. (Sex between unmarried people is generally considered fornication. It still a sin.) Worshipping false gods is seen as adultery because it is a breaking of the close personal relationship that should exist in marriage. God describes the Jews as the ‘bride of the Father’, and the church as the ‘bride of the Son’. In this sense adultery ranks as important as “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exo. 20:3)

God considered divorce the same as adultery - the breaking of the marital commitment. Why then did divorce exist - because we are weak, and prone to sin. (See: Psa. 50:18; Matt. 5:27-29, 31-32; Matt. 19:4-9)

“do you rob temples?” - Example number three: This offense is less clear to me. God did give the instruction to the Israelites to leave the gold from the Canaanite idols alone. He did not want them defiled by the idols. (See: Deut. 7:25; Josh. 7:21) I am not sure how this applied to the Jews of the first century A.D. It is hard to imagine Jews entering temples of false gods. Perhaps the Jews were doing business, selling and buying, with the temples and cheating them in the process. (That is speculation.)

V. 23-24 - “do you dishonor God?” - Example number four: You show contempt for the Law by your selective obedience. James says it clearly: “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:8-11)

“THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU” - (This is a paraphrase of Isa. 52:5, and Eze. 36:20.) God acts to preserve His reputation among Gentiles. They see how Israel acts and thereby lose respect for the God of Israel. God tells David directly his sin has besmirched God’s name. (2 Sam. 12:14) The punishment Israel receives in exile is the result of their dishonor of God. (See: Isa. 52:5; Ezek. 36:20ff) Paul reminds the church of this in his letter to Timothy. (1 Tim. 6:1)

God is not glorified when our actions refute our professed belief in Him.
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Romans 2:12-16 - Hearers vs. Doers

12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

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With or Without the Law

Paul is building a case in these first few chapters for our need of salvation. He starts:
The world has become depraved because it has rejected God.
You may think you are off the hook, since you do not see yourself as depraved.
However, your actions show whether you seek to do good, or seek to live unrighteously.
We know that God will judge all, without playing favorites.

In this next paragraph Paul addresses those people who claim they are favorites because they have the Law. Their attitude, “You don’t have the Law because your are not special in God’s estimation. We have the Law and you don’t.” Paul directs us to look at the following issues:

• Those who follow the law even if it wasn’t given to them (2:12-16)
• The Jews who violate the Law whilst requiring others to obey (“Do as I say, not as I do.”) (2:17-24)
• The value of circumcision (2:25-29)

V. 12 - “sin without the Law... perish without the Law” - Paul does not specify ‘the Law’ in the previous verses - 1:1-2:11. He launches from “the Jews first and then the Gentiles” comment in verses 9 and 10 into the following discussion. The world is depraved and some will object, because they are ‘good’. Some will object because they are Jews and have the Law - there is no way they could be as bad as that.

Paul is addressing an ancient question, “How will God judge those who have not heard?” I think this question is sometimes asked in concern for others, and also is based on our perception of ‘fairness’ - If I have to be saved by belief in Jesus Christ (I do!), it’s not fair if God saves someone who hasn’t heard. (I am not saying I know how God will judge - save or condemn - people who haven’t heard.) There is also the false concern - it’s not fair for God to judge them just because they haven’t heard. In either instance, the objection is raised because we don’t trust God to do right - we feel capable to tell God how to do justice and salvation! That is overweening pride in our abilities and knowledge.

This is a straightforward simple statement. If you are a sinner and are not subject to the Law, you will not be judged on the basis of the Law. "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.” (Ezek. 18:20) The Law did not invent sin, it calls attention to it, identifies it, makes us aware of sin.

“sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law” - This is a straightforward simple statement. If you are a sinner while you believe and adhere to the Law, you will be judged on the basis of the Law. "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'” (Eze. 33:11) I feel the need to issue a caveat: I am not saying you can be saved by obeying the Law. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. No matter how hard you try, you will fail at keeping the Law without fail.

Law, or no Law, you need Jesus. 

V. 13 - “not the hearers of the Law... but the doers of the Law” - Knowing about the Law is important. Knowing and obeying the Law is vital. You can study the Law, you can memorize the Law. If you do not live your life according to that Law, then the knowing is worthless. This can be seen also in Jam. 1:21-25.

For example: I worked for several years as an Electrical Engineer consultant - our firm designed factories. I relied on the National Electric Code (NEC) to design the conduit and wire carrying power to the equipment being served. Each wire size has a designated current capacity. This value is not the maximum amount of current that can be shoved through the wire, but the amount that can safely be conducted without overheating the wire and insulation. Ignoring the NEC and designing for the conductor to carry more that the proscribed amounts could result in insulation melting, short circuits, fire, or even deaths. Knowing the Code, and not designing by it will result in dangerous situations.

“Justified” - A simple mnemonic, ‘just as if your had never sinned’ helps us get a start in understanding this word.

V. 14 - “do instinctively the things of the Law” - Gentiles (any non-Jew) who are obedient to the Law, without becoming a convert, follow because it seems right to them. Acting ‘instictively’ means you are not stopping to think. For example: Your car begins to swerve or slide on ice. If you are thinking, “What did the instructor say? Hit the brakes? No, that doesn’t sound right. Accelerate? Ummm.” You will have plenty of time while your car is being towed to come up with the answer.
Sometimes instinct means ‘fight-or-flight’. Part of the problem is that our ‘instinct’ has been corrupted by sin. Our old nature, the one we were born and grew up with, will lead us to decisions that are detrimental. They may seem right at the time, but lead ultimately to death.  

“Are a law unto themselves” - I do not think this means the ‘Law’ they are following has its origin within themselves, nor are they arbiters - judge and jury - of that law. It is they operate as if they were Jewish, not Gentiles.

V. 15 - “they show the work of the Law written in their hearts” - The law has become such a part of their lives they know the right thing to do immediately. Their conscience and thought processes will confirm whether their actions follow God’s laws or not.

V. 16 - “on the day” - There comes a day... No one, except the Father in heaven, knows the day or time when all will called to be judged.

“God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” - God will work through Christ Jesus to execute judgements. Every person’s actions will be judged. All will be judged with respect to their faith in Christ Jesus. I am confident the latter is definitely part of the picture. After all, it will be determined in the presence of God the Father and the Son if every person has their name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

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The accusation: the world is depraved is because the world does not have the Law. Paul is saying, “It ain’t necessarily so.” We are being drawn to the conclusion that we are depraved with, or without the Law. Additionally, we come to the conclusion that it is possible to know and follow God without the Law. Praise the Lord for that! (Otherwise, only Jews could become Christians.)

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Romans 2:1-4 - Your Stubbornness Gets You into Trouble

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?

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You are Without Excuse

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).

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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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