Introduction
Remember back to the text that came just before this chapter division. Paul gave us a look at the depravity of those who choose not to follow God and the wrath that will come upon all sinners. Chapter 2 continues from that discussion right into an important admonition to the readers━the Christians in Rome:
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”
Romans 2:1
Cautious Judgement
The warning given here is to be aware that when we condemn others for the sins they commit, we must realize that we are also guilty of sin. Perhaps we are not guilty of the same exact sin for which we condemn another, but sin is sin. The first few verses of Matthew 7, part of the Sermon on the Mount, come to mind:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Matthew 7:1-2
Just as in Romans 2, the teaching here is not that we should never accuse or judge someone else of their sins, but that we need to be careful to not blind ourselves of our own sins in the process. Jesus continues on to say:
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5
We are taught that before we try to help another with their sin, we need to take care of the glaring issues that are our own. In this case, Christ illustrated this with a brother having a speck in their eye and us trying to help while having an entire plank of wood sticking out of our own eye. If there is major sin in our lives, we won’t be able to see clearly to help someone else with their sin.
“‘But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.”
Romans 2:2
The point Paul is working toward here is that while our judgement can often be clouded by our own sin, God is the righteous judge who can truly test hearts and administer condemnation toward the vilest offenders. The next verse challenges us to beware of dishing out condemnation without addressing ourselves first:
“‘And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
Romans 2:3
No one is above the judgement of God. We will all answer for our transgressions on judgement day. Paul then continues, in the next few verses, to make it clear that this passage is not about the sinfulness of everyone else, but about the hypocrisy of the Christians in Rome, and especially the Jews. Read on:
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”
Romans 2:4-11
Those who judge others so harshly, but never address their own sin are ultimately self-seeking (v. 8). They really just want to make themselves feel better by calling out the sins of others that they might deem “worse” than their own. We know, however, that to God, all sin is deserving of eternal damnation, no matter how differently we might view each sin. God will “render to each one according to his deeds’ (v. 6). Paul gives two types here: those who patiently continue in doing good, and those who are selfish and disobedient to God. To the former, God will grant eternal life, glory, honor, and peace (vv. 7, 10). To the latter, “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish” (vv. 8-9).
God is a just and righteous judge. “[T]here is no partiality with God” (v. 11). Disobey God, and do not be surprised when He deals the judgement that is due you. Follow God, and you will receive just rewards for your perseverance. Read the next section which contrasts Jews and Gentiles:
“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them ) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
Romans 2:12-16
Paul notes that there are some who never knew the law of God specifically, but still “by nature” did things in the law. These people “show the work of the law written in their hearts, because their conscience aids them in knowing right from wrong (v. 15). This calls back directly to the statements made in verses 19 and 20 of chapter 1:
“[W]hat may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”
Romans 1:19-20
To those who did not receive the law of God during the time of the Old Testament, God still made provision. He gave them a conscience that, if they listened to it, would help them to know right from wrong. Still today, “unchurched” people still know that certain things (murder, stealing, adultery, etc.) are wrong because of what God has put into each one of us and because of the evidence of God that can be found all around us. God rewards those who seek after Him, whether they were given the law of Moses or not.
The main point of these verses, then, is that the Jews ought to be ashamed when they do not follow the law they were directly given, because the Gentiles were not directly given any law, yet still do the things of the law.
Guilt of the Jews
Paul now speaks specifically to the Jewish recipients of the letter, treating them with the firmness they deserve as they have had the law from God for centuries:
“Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident 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 babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.”
Romans 2:17-24
The Jews were proud and often boastful of their perceived status in God’s eyes. After this list of all the wonderful things Jews are proud of, Paul asks them why they do not teach themselves all these things. Do we not also do similar things? We preach that stealing is sinful, but we justify in our minds just taking that one little thing that “no one will miss.” We teach against adultery, but we watch movies and shows that almost glorify it. We disapprove of the worship of idols, but we put almost everything else in our lives in place of God. We may boast in our salvation through Christ, but we simultaneously dishonor Him by living an ungodly lifestyle. Verse 24 says that it was written of the Jewish Christians in Rome that “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles” because of them. Does not the name of Christ become blasphemed as we daily live contrary to the very teachings of the one whose name we wear? When the world sees us who claim to be followers of Christ living just like (or worse than) those of the world, they think less of Christ and that we are all just hypocrites. Take care that the way you live your life does not turn others away from God.
Circumcision of the Heart
To the Jews, circumcision was the sign of their allegiance to God. To us, our baptism and adoption of the name “Christian” is the sign that we have chosen to follow God. This passage is just as applicable to us today as it was to first century Jewish Christians.
“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Romans 2:25-29
This passage is essentially saying that there is no point to circumcision if one does not follow God in one’s heart. “He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,” (v. 29). Paul says as well that one who was uncircumcised but kept the law of God is able to judge those who are circumcised but transgress the law. We must not only wear the name of Christ and show the outward signs of faithfulness to Him: we must also truly BE followers of Him. God will judge us by our hearts, not solely by the name we bear or if we were dunked under water.
Conclusion
We must be careful when we judge others for their sins, as we all have sin in our lives. Thankfully, God is the righteous judge who will measure all people by their hearts. We have been given both a blessing and a responsibility to be called followers of Christ. We are blessed to be able to take part in the reward awaiting us if we live faithfully to God. We are responsible for appropriately wearing the name of Christ, showing the world what it truly means to follow Him. May God guide us as we strive to be worthy of His name. Ω