Romans 2:17-29
Q.1. How did Paul sum up the attitude of the Jews towards others? How did he distinguish between theology and practice? What was the ultimate insult of their religion? – (Rom.2:17-24)
Paul described the Jews as being boastful about knowing God’s will, and of having been taught about the Law (Rom.2:17-18). They saw themselves as being superior to others, as – 19 … a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth (Rom.2:19-20). Therefore, Paul asked why they failed to practice what they preached. (Rom.2:21-22). He quoted from the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel and charged this generation also with insulting God with their religion, so that – the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you (Rom.2:24). Paul was laying the foundation for his presentation of the Gospel. That is – for the Christian believer, our inability to keep God’s Law perfectly, brings us to the realization that we need a Saviour. These Jews should have come to the same conclusion.
Q.2. How did Paul show that outward conformity to the Law is cancelled out by breaking the Law? What makes a person a true Jew? What religion pleases God? – (Rom.2:25-29)
Paul then went on to explain that outward religious compliance such as circumcision, is of no value to those who keep transgressing the Law. He suggested that a Gentile uncircumcised person who kept God’s Law from the heart, was acceptable to God, and would judge the Jew who merely kept the letter of the Law (Rom.2:25-27). He asserted – 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 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 (Rom.2:28-29). He exposed the Jews as being preoccupied with impressing people, rather than with pleasing God Himself. In these first two chapters, Paul highlighted that Jews and Gentiles alike, all break God’s holy Law, and thus violate their own consciences. All are equally in need of the Saviour. In fact, their knowledge of the truth leaves them no better off, if they only respond by trying to justify themselves by good works.