1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:1-16 KJV)
God’s Righteous Judgment
In the former chapter, the apostle described the Gentile world as corrupt and depraved, which the Jews themselves readily admitted. Now, aiming to show that the Jews were also deeply sinful, and in many ways more guilty, he begins this section by proving that God judges Jews and Gentiles alike with equal justice, not with the partiality the Jews expected in their favor.
He first rebukes them for their censoriousness and pride (Romans 2:1): “You are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge.” Though he speaks generally, this applies especially to the Jews, who were proud and contemptuous of the Gentiles. They condemned them as unworthy even to be among their flocks, while in reality they were guilty themselves—if not of idolatry, yet of sacrilege and immorality (Romans 2:22). If the Gentiles, who had only natural light, were without excuse (Romans 1:20), much more the Jews, who had the revealed law of God.
He then asserts the unchanging justice of God’s government (Romans 2:2-3). God’s judgment is according to truth, eternal justice, and the heart, not mere appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). He judges according to works, not persons. This should especially concern those who condemn others for the same sins they practice themselves, thinking their loud protests against sin will somehow excuse their guilt. So Paul asks (Romans 2:3), “Do you think, O man, that you will escape the judgment of God?” God cannot be deceived by appearances nor bribed with words. Even the most polished sinners, who confidently excuse themselves before men, cannot escape God’s righteous judgment.
He further charges them with two specific sins (Romans 2:4-5). First, they despised the goodness of God, which should have led them to repentance. The Jews had received remarkable tokens of God’s kindness. To sin against such mercies is to scorn his love. Every willful sin expresses contempt of his patience and long-suffering (Ecclesiastes 8:11). God’s goodness is designed to lead us—not drive us—like rational creatures, by love (Hosea 11:4; Jeremiah 31:3). The true reason many remain impenitent is because they do not consider this.
Second, they provoked the wrath of God by their hard and unrepentant hearts (Romans 2:5). Every sin adds to their account, as though they were storing up wrath for the day of judgment. God’s wrath is compared to a treasure, reserved until the day it is fully revealed (Deuteronomy 32:34; Job 38:22-23). Though today is a day of patience, there is a coming day of wrath (Revelation 6:17). Even now God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11), but on that great day, his righteous judgment will be openly revealed (Psalm 50:6).
He then describes how God will judge. His judgment is perfectly just, giving to each person according to their works (Romans 2:6).
On the one hand, God rewards the righteous (Romans 2:7, 10). The objects of his favor are those who patiently continue in doing good. They first fix their hearts on the right goal: glory, honor, and immortality—acceptance with God here and eternal life with him. This holy ambition is the heart of true religion (Matthew 6:33). Having fixed the right goal, they also follow the right way: doing good, and persevering in it with patience despite hardships. To such God gives eternal life—glory, honor, and peace. Unlike worldly honors, which are full of trouble, heavenly honor comes with everlasting peace.
On the other hand, God’s wrath is revealed against those who do evil (Romans 2:8-9). These are described as contentious, refusing to obey the truth, and instead obeying unrighteousness. Every willful sin is striving against God (Isaiah 45:9), resisting the Spirit (Genesis 6:3). To such belong indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. Sin qualifies the soul for this wrath, and the soul is its subject. Hell is eternal anguish—the inevitable result of contending with God (Isaiah 27:4).
Paul then insists (Romans 2:11) that God shows no favoritism. Jews and Gentiles alike stand on the same level before him. Peter also declared this truth when the gospel first broke through the dividing wall (Acts 10:34-35). God saves neither by outward privilege nor by profession, but by the true state of the heart. Jews will not escape judgment because of their law, nor Gentiles because of their ignorance; both will be judged impartially (Colossians 3:11).
He next proves the fairness of God’s judgment (Romans 2:12-16), showing that men will be judged by the measure of light they received.
First, the Gentiles will be judged by the light of nature. As many as sinned without the law will perish without the law (Romans 2:12). They did not have the written law of Moses, but they did have the law of nature, written in their hearts (Romans 2:14-15). By natural reason they knew the difference between right and wrong—honesty, justice, charity, honor, purity—and in this sense they were a law unto themselves. Their consciences bore witness, sometimes accusing, sometimes excusing them. Conscience is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27), testifying to secret thoughts and actions. Thus, the Gentiles are left without excuse, since they sinned against the light they had.
Second, the Jews will be judged by the written law (Romans 2:12). They sinned not only having the law but in the very midst of it, with clear directions and solemn sanctions. Their punishment will therefore be greater (Luke 12:47). The Jews prided themselves in the law, but Paul declares (Romans 2:13) that hearing and knowing the law does not justify—only doing it does (James 1:22). This strikes at the false confidence of the Jewish teachers, who promised salvation to all Jews regardless of how they lived. The law is a privilege only if obeyed, which the Jews certainly did not. The same applies to the gospel: not hearing but doing brings blessing (John 13:17).
Third, those who have the gospel will be judged by it (Romans 2:16). Paul calls it “my gospel,” not as if it were his own invention, but because he was appointed to preach it. Those under the gospel will be judged according to the gospel. He adds that judgment will come through Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). This is both a terror to sinners and a comfort to saints. On that day, the secrets of men will be judged—hidden sins exposed, hidden services rewarded. Nothing will remain concealed; all will be brought to light before the whole world (Luke 12:2-3).
Thus Paul proves that God’s judgment is righteous, impartial, and universal. Gentiles with only natural law, Jews with the written law, and Christians with the gospel will each be judged by the light they had. All are guilty and without excuse, and therefore all stand in need of the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.