17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:17-24 KJV)
The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
In the latter part of this chapter, the apostle speaks directly to the Jews, showing the sins they were guilty of despite their religious claims. He had already stated in Romans 2:13 that it is not those who simply hear the law but those who do it who are justified. Here, he applies that truth specifically to the Jews.
Paul acknowledges their religious identity and the privileges they took pride in, making it clear he was not condemning them out of ignorance. He knew their best arguments. They were a unique people, set apart from all others by the written law and God’s special presence among them. “You are called a Jew,” he states (Romans 2:17). This was a very honorable title, and they were proud of it, but many who were called Jews were the vilest of people. It’s not a new thing for the worst actions to be hidden under the best names, for a “brood of vipers” to boast of having “Abraham for their father” (Matthew 3:7-9).
They also “rested in the law” (Romans 2:17), meaning they were proud to have the law in their books and read it in their synagogues. They thought this privilege was enough to get them into heaven, even though they did not live up to the law’s commands. To rest in the law out of pride or laziness is destructive to the soul. It is dangerous to rely on external privileges without using them.
They also “boasted of God” (Romans 2:17). While a humble and thankful boasting in God is the foundation of all true religion (1 Corinthians 1:31), a proud boasting in God and a superficial profession of his name is the root of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous kind of pride.
The Jews also considered themselves a knowledgeable people (Romans 2:18). They knew God’s will and approved of the things that were excellent, even discerning things that differed. They thought they could easily distinguish between good and evil because they had the law as a guide. A person can be good at understanding religious concepts but a poor Christian in practice. Their knowledge, which was passed down to them from a young age out of the law, was merely “the form of knowledge and of the truth” (Romans 2:20). Those whose knowledge is just an empty concept and does not affect their hearts have only the appearance of it, like a well-drawn picture that lacks life. The outward form of knowledge produces only a form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). A mere form of knowledge can deceive men but cannot deceive the all-knowing God.
They also considered themselves a teaching people (Romans 2:19-20). “And are confident that you yourself are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants.” They were proud to see themselves as guides for the Gentiles who were “in darkness” and believed that anyone who wanted to know God had to come to them. Their rabbis and leaders especially took pride in their positions of influence. However, even the best work, when done out of pride, is not acceptable to God.
Paul emphasizes the seriousness of their offenses from two perspectives. First, they sinned against their own knowledge and profession. They did themselves what they taught others to avoid. “You who teach another, do you not teach yourself?” (Romans 2:21). Teaching should begin at home. The hypocrisy of the religious leaders was that their actions contradicted their words (Matthew 23:3). People are more influenced by examples than by rules. Those whose bad lives contradict their good doctrine are the greatest obstacles to the word’s success. He specifies three sins that were common among the Jews: stealing, adultery, and sacrilege.
The Pharisees were guilty of “devouring widows’ houses” (Matthew 23:14), a form of robbery. Many Jewish religious teachers were also known for adultery. Sacrilege was a form of stealing in holy things. After their captivity, the Jews remarkably came to abhor idols, but they were charged with robbing God in tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-9), using for themselves what was set apart for God. This was a sin that was almost as bad as idolatry, even though it was covered up by their hatred of idols. Those who condemn sin in others but do the same or worse themselves will have a severe reckoning one day.
Second, their sin dishonored God (Romans 2:23-24). While God and his law were an honor to them, they brought dishonor to God and his law by giving people outside their faith a reason to criticize their religion. While it is wrong for others to draw such conclusions (since the faults of believers should not be blamed on their faith), it is a serious sin for those who give them that reason. This was the same condemnation against David, that he had given “great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14).
Paul refers to the same charge against the Jews’ forefathers, as it is written in Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22-23. It is a sad thing when those who are supposed to be for God’s name and praise become a source of shame and dishonor. The greatest harm of a believer’s sin is the dishonor it brings to God. “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” Paul says (Romans 2:24). You give people a reason to insult your God, and religion is wounded through your actions. This is a powerful warning for all who claim to be believers to be careful how they live (1 Timothy 6:1).