I. The Boast Of The Religious Critic Vs. 17-20
A. The Dilemma Of The Moral Critic And The Religious Critic
1. Romans 2:11Therefore 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.
2. The dilemma with the moral critic is that he sets moral standards for himself and others.
a. The standards that he sets may indeed be very good standards.
b. When someone doesn’t keep those standards, the moral critic judges him/her.
c. The problem: the moral critic at some point fails to keep those same standards.
d. Thus, as he condemns others, he at the same time, condemns himself.
3. The religious critic goes further: he uses some form of God’s word as the standard.
a. Paul points to the Jewish people, who were the first to receive God’s word.
b. Many Western religions and organizations are very similar in that they have received and look to portions of or all of God’s word as some kind of standard.
c. Catholicism, Mormonism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses fall into the category.
d. The Free Masons acknowledge the Bible as a book of guidance.
e. Other Protestant organizations claim to believe the Bible as being the word of God, but also emphasize certain parts while minimizing other parts.
f. The point is this: While the moral critic uses human morality as the standard for men, the religious critic uses God’s Word as the standard for men.
g. He uses a higher standard; therefore, his failure and judgment are greater.
B. What The Jews Trusted In Vs. 17, 18
1. V. 17- Indeed you are called a Jew– They felt superior because of who they were.
2. V. 17- rest on the law- rest- to lean upon. “Leaning” doesn’t call for much commitment
3. V. 17- and make your boast in God- The Jews were in a covenantal agreement with God. They had relationship with God as individuals and as a nation. This was not like
the condition the Christian enjoys, (indwelling), but they had an external relationship with God. Obedience brought blessing, disobedience brought judgment, God had a plan
to bring them into the Promised Land, etc.
4. V. 18- 18and know His will- They understood God’s plan for them, how to live, etc.
5. V. 18- and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law– They agreed with the spiritual and moral standards of God’s Laws. They were instructed
from childhood from God’s law. “approve”- to examine, test, and declare to be good.
C. How They Saw Themselves Vs. 19, 20
1. Because of their knowledge of God’s Laws, they felt confident in their ability (and superiority) to be teachers to the world.
a. If Paul would have read this list to a group of Jews, they would have agreed.
2. V. 19- The Jews were confident that they could offer spiritual light to others. They had been long convinced that they had superior spiritual insight. They were sure.
3. V. 20a- a corrector or trainer of those without reflection or intelligence. (Wuest)
4. V. 20b- they were confident teachers of those who were new to the Jewish faith.
5. V. 20c- Knowledge- gnosis:experiential knowledge. The knowledge and the truth.
II. The Failure Of The Religious Critic Vs. 21-24h2>
A. Failure To Teach Self V.21a</
1. Those who seek to teach others about God must also obey that teaching.
B. Failure In Outward Actions Vs. 21b, 22
1. Stealing was prohibited in God’s Word. The Jews agreed that this was good. (V.18)
2. Both the 10 Commandments and the teachings of Jesus identified coveting another man’s wife as sinful, and as adultery of the heart.
3. V. 22 Abhor idols- abhor- to turn away from something because of its stench.
a. Idolatry was a stench. Temple prostitutes, deifying creation, etc.
b. The Jews hated idolatry. Apparently, they though it permissible to rob temples.
c. Acts 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. (Comments about Paul and his companions while in Ephesus)
4. Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai- spoke of “the increase of murder, adultery, sexual vice, commercial and judicial corruption, bitter sectarian strife, and other evils”.
C. Failure- They Dishonored God Through Disobedience V.23
1. They boasted in having the Law, but dishonored God through disobedience.
a. Why do vehemently object when judges, police officers, politicians, pastors and priests violate the laws of the land or the church?
b. Because they are upholders of the law; they teach it, model it, defend it, etc.
c. They are not innocent for knowing and defending the Law. (Nor is anyone else)
2. They cannot boast in defending the law when they themselves break the law.
D. Failure In Causing Others To Blaspheme God V.24
1. Paul does not use his own authority to condemn them, but quotes from Isaiah 52:5 LXX.
2. Isaiah spoke of Jews who did this previously. Paul applies it to his readers.
3. If they were honest Jews, they would have to agree with Paul.
4. The hypocrisy of the Jews caused the Gentiles to blaspheme God. (speak reproachfully)
III. External Religion Versus Inward Transformation Vs. 25-29
A. The Law Is Profitable If You Can Keep It
1. V. 25- The Jews prided themselves on having received the command for circumcision; the identifying mark for them as belonging to God. It was a sign of their covenantal
relationship with God. (i.e. baptism, church membership)
a. Circumcision emphasized relationship with God, but it wasn’t the entire law.
b. John Stott- Circumcision “was no substitute for obedience; it constituted rather a commitment to obedience”. Circumcision=covenant with God=obedience.
c. 1
1st century rabbinic epigram- “Circumcised men do not descend into Gehenna”.
d. If a Jew kept circumcision, but broke other laws, they were a law breaker, and the circumcision which they had emphasized would count for nothing.
e. Literally- your circumcision has become foreskin. (You are just like a Gentile)
2. Vs. 26, 27-If an uncircumcised Gentile could keep the law, he would be considered righteous, regardless of being uncircumcised. He would be doing what the Jew should
have been doing, regardless of being uncircumcised, which was the sign of covenant.
a. The uncircumcised Gentile would be the judge of the circumcised, disobedient Jew.
b. The circumcised, disobedient Jew was in danger of the judgment of God
B. True Relationship With God is Inward Vs. 28, 29
1. External religious ceremonies do not make a person right with God.
2. Agreeing with the rightness of God’s laws does not make one right with God.
3. Being able to teach others about the rightness of God’s word does not justify someone.
4. Rightness with God is not found by external observance, but by inward from faith.
5. The man whose heart is right with God is the one who receives praise from God.
6. John 3:7 Jesus said, “You must be born again.