Romans - Chapter 2
2:1 Inconsistent human judgment.
We begin to see the pouring out of the thoughts of Paul and the contrasts he will show us through this letter. We know from Romans 16:22 that his assistant Tertius was writing these thoughts as he dictated them. He starts what we call chapter two by a harsh statement concerning the fact that man is not excused because he practices the same things he accuses others of doing.
Human judgment, while at times helpful, is generally inconsistent while human criticism is strongly consistent as it seems never to end. Paul is beginning with a rough statement that what certain people judge as condemned behavior among Gentiles is seen among those doing the condemning. Here is a fine introduction by way of contrast to our next subject.
2:2-10 Integrity of divine judgment.
If people want to lead a more realistic life they must reckon with the judgment of God upon those lives they are living. Contrary to man's judgment, the judgment of the Lord is consistent for it is “... according to truth.” Furthermore God's judgment is inescapable. In Paul's day the Jew thought that there was one rule for Jews and another rule for Gentiles. But Paul now states there is only one rule for all and none escape it. Paul also says the judgment of God is cumulative and in the final display of wrath to come, the entire weight of human sin will be reconciled by God. That day, however, is still in the future. Why?
Because of God's goodness, forbearance, and long suffering. These beautiful attributes of the Lord are supposed to lead each sinner to repentance. Paul is convinced that it is shameful to use the patience of God to continue sinning.
Paul presents us with only two alternatives. We all adopt one of two lifestyles, in one we will reap wrath, in the other we will reap reward. There are no exceptions.
2:11-15 The judgment of the Lord is impartial.
If there is no partiality toward the Jew because of his privileged position (being a part of the chosen people) then there cannot be any partiality for the Gentile for his lack of privilege. The Jew has the law and still sins. Gentiles have no law and also sin.
2:16 Divine judgment is inevitable.
The judgment will be against the “... secrets of men.” Also, the judgment will be by Jesus Christ. The Father appointed Him as judge (John 2:25) as He lived in the flesh and gained insight into man's struggles, testing, and trials.
2:17-24 Profession without performance.
As a result of the tragedies that had come upon the nation, Jews had been dispersed into many lands so that therefore wherever Rome and Greece ruled, Jews were there as well. They preserved their unique differences while in these other lands in dress, diet, and style of life, none of which Rome nor Greece could ever erase. The Jews had a much deeper knowledge of God available to them, in which they took considerable pride. But they had failed miserably to apply this knowledge to their lives, and in that failure rested their sin.
Originally even their name (Jew) came from God's guidance as they were descended from the tribe of Judah, in His land of Judea. They took pride in the fact the law had been given only to them. The law revealed some of the nature of God's will for how He expected His people to live. Unfortunately the only thing that seemed to have resulted was a sense of false superiority.
Paul pinpoints four areas that were important to God. They should honor the Lord, not steal, not be in adultery, and to reject idolatry. The teaching of these important factors was never in question, but the obedience to them by the chosen people was not observant. They had disregarded God's commands. They knew the truth and did not live it. They were responsible for unbelievers being misled as their Jewish lives were not in accord with their profession of faith in the law and this failure allowed God's name to be despised.
2:25-29 Ritual without reality.
Paul now expresses these failures in a new direction, which is the long held rite of circumcision. Paul was convinced this sign of the covenant in their flesh had lost its significance and was not not valid to the reality of their lives. This was not a new idea. Jeremiah had said the identical thing in Jeremiah 4:4 when he told the chosen people to “...take away the foreskins of your hearts.” But now it is likely that Paul's teaching on this matter was a thunderbolt of heresy as this one area was sacred in the teaching of the Rabbis.
Paul was now emphasizing the difference between ritual and reality. The mark in the flesh was supposed to carry spiritual meaning but the spiritual reality it was supposed to represent was no longer evident.
