Free Bible Commentary
“Romans 2:17-29”
Categories: Romans"But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, 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, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For 'THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,' just as it is written.
"For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law 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 which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
---End of Scripture verses---
Let's keep in mind that all of this reasoning is tempered by the fact that no one can be justified by the works of the law (3:20). Paul is making some hypothetical argumentation in chapter 2, but the truth be known, neither a Jewish person nor a Gentile can find the salvation they so desperately need through any law. Salvation can only be provided by God's mercy and by a Savior.
"He is a Jew who is one inwardly: and circumcisions is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit..." (verse 28). With God, there is neither Jew nor Gentile any longer for He shows no partiality to physical lineage or traits (Galatians 3:28). The physical land of Israel and ethnical Jews are of no special interest to God any more. God's main interest and His dwelling place is the human heart (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Jesus said to the woman at the well in Samaria, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:21-24).
God wants us to love Him with all our hearts, obey Him as best we can, serve Him with zeal and vigor and worship Him in spirit and truth. Then we will be considered the true Israel of God, no matter where live or who our physical ancestors are (Galatians 3:29).
Please read Romans 3:1-20 for tomorrow.
Have an awesome day!
- Louie Taylor
