In Romans chapter 2, the Apostle Paul explains judgment before God and its standards, emphasizing that both Jews and Gentiles receive God's righteous judgment. This chapter specifically points out the discrepancy between the Jews' pride in having the Torah and their practice, conveying the message that the essence of the heart is more important than the external form.
1. God’s fair judgment (Romans 2:1-16)
Verses 1-4: Those who criticize are also under sin.
- Paul warns critics, pointing out that they are sinning when they judge others as they judge themselves.
- People criticize others for their sins, but they also say they are committing the same sins.
- We rebuke those who do not realize that God's judgment is carried out according to truth and that His kindness leads to repentance.
Verses 5-11: God judges fairly
- It is said that God's wrath is accumulating because of unrepentant hearts, and God punishes each person according to his or her actions.
- It is said that eternal life is given to those who do good, and wrath and wrath are given to those who do evil.
- God is no respecter of persons and judges fairly both Jews and Greeks.
Verses 12-16: Those without the law and those with the law
- Those who sin without the law will perish without the law, and those who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
- Those who do the law, not those who hear it, are justified.
- The Gentiles do not have the law, but by nature they do the things of the law, and their conscience bears witness that God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ on the Day of Judgment.
2. Jewish sin and law (Romans 2:17-29)
Verses 17-24: The Jewish sin of boasting about the law
- Jews boast about the law and claim to know God, but in reality they do not keep the law.
- As teachers of the law, they teach others, but do not follow the teachings themselves.
- Paul points out that they are breaking the law and dishonoring God.
Verses 25-29: True circumcision
- Paul explains that circumcision is only beneficial if the law is followed.
- If the law is broken, circumcision is no different from uncircumcision.
- Gentiles who keep the law are considered circumcised even if they are uncircumcised.
- A true Jew is not circumcised outwardly, but circumcised in the heart, and this is accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
summary
Romans 2 emphasizes that the inner essence, not the outer form, is important and makes it clear that both Jews and Gentiles are under God's fair judgment. Paul points out the hypocrisy and inconsistency of the Jews who boast about the law and explains that true circumcision is a change of heart and an inner change by the Holy Spirit. Through this chapter, we can learn that internal change and the work of the Holy Spirit are more important than God's fair judgment and external consciousness.