Romans 2:17-24

                                                             Romans 2:17-24

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

 

Paul continues his systematic condemnation of all of humanity by calling various witnesses against the variety of people.  To condemn the pagan Paul called on the witness of idolatry.  To condemn the moralist, he called the witness of conscience.  To condemn the religious mand, he calls the witness of hypocrisy.  Because the religious man fails to practice what he preaches, he promotes the blaspheming of the God he claims to serve.

 

THE JEWS ARE CONDEMNED BY WHAT THEY PREACH: The expression “practice what you preach” would be a good summary of this passage.  Paul’s condemnation of the Jew or the religious man in general is based on the fact that he knows the Law to the point of teaching the Law to others and yet does not obey the Law.  Ignorance of the Law is not an excuse, but having the Law is certainly a factor to consider in the judgment of men.  The pride the Jews displayed in claiming to be teachers of the Law contributes greatly to their condemnation before God.

 

THE JEWS ARE CONDEMNED BY WHAT THEY PRACTICE: The fact that the religious man teaches the Law but then turns around and does the things he taught against is the primary argument of his condemnation.  Knowing the Law does no good without practicing it.  The dishonesty, adultery, and idolatry that marked the nation is inexcusable because they taught so radically against these things.  Jesus reveled that it was not only the acts of these things, but also the thoughts of these things that caused the people to be guilty of these sins. 

 

THE JEWS ARE CONDEMNED BY WHAT THEY PROMOTE: God created man to worship Him.  He chose the Jewish people to spread His fame in the nations so that all people would fear and worship the Lord.  However, the result of the hypocrisy in the lives of the Jewish people was causing the name of the Lord to be blasphemed in the nations.  Just the opposite of what they were called to do was what they ended up doing.  This is not pleasing to the Lord and brings about sure condemnation.  Jesus is the only means of purification and salvation from the sins of men.

 

APPLICATION: Be careful to put into practice the things that you teach.  Recognize that our sin has an impact far beyond ourselves.  Others are watching us and will either worship God or blaspheme against Him based on our response to His Word and the way we present his Word to others.

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