Romans 2:17-29

In Rom. 2:17-3:8 the Apostle applies the standards of judgment to the Jews.  The Jews are noteworthy because the Creator choses these descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be His special people (Deut. 7:6-11).  Perhaps the chief benefit in this was the giving of God’s law to Moses.  Embodied in the 10 Commandments, but entailing so much more, God set Israel in a place where she would be a testimony to all the nations, a testimony of God’s nature and works.

As in every religion the adherents or members or chosen ones have two options with respect to their special position.  Israel can humbly acknowledge that their position is for the glory of the God who chose them.  Or they can be filled with pride as if their position were their own doing.  The Law of Moses was the means by which the Jews would do this.  It would not be sufficient to know the law.  As with the Gentiles they would be judged according to their works.  Paul addresses the Jews as a group, though the issues are ultimately personal.

As to their knowledge of the law Paul does not argue (v17-20).  They boast about having God’s written law (v17).  They claim to have knowledge of God’s will (v18).  They are confident that they can lead and teach others because their law is God’s truth (v19-20).

But the Apostle does with the Jews what he did in 2:1 with the Gentiles: he condemns the Jew by his own standard (v21-24). Having God’s written law is no reason to boast in one’s knowledge.  To have it without obeying it is a reason for humility as it reveals the glaring inconsistencies between thought and life.  

They didn’t practice what they preached (v21).  Specific commands against stealing, adultery and idolatry are mentioned.  (The reference in v22 to robbing temples may refer to Jews who often did not pay their temple tax or some other required offering.  But most likely it referred to a practice, forbidden by the law, of looting pagan temples and selling the items for profit.)  These inconsistencies and the accompanying pride resulted in God being slandered rather than being honored before the nations (v23-24).

The failure of the Jews was most obvious in the practice of circumcision.  This was, of course, a religious practice involving the body and was commanded in the Old Testament.  Paul uses this external practice to show the inconsistencies and failure of Israel.  They boasted about the religious practice while inwardly living in disobedience.  Paul rightly notes that the judgment is concerned with obedience to the law and that the uncircumcised law-keeper has a better standing than the circumcised law-breaker.

What the Apostle says here is not new.  The issue from the time that God gave His law to Moses was not knowledge of the law but obedience.  Exodus 19:3-6 reveals God’s words to Israel just before He gave the Ten Commandments.  He called them to respond to His grace and love seen in the deliverance from Egypt.  He called them to obey His voice and keep His covenant.

The conclusion is that even the religious Jews are inexcusable.  Though they know the law, they do not keep it.  Perhaps you consider yourself to be a religious person and boast in your standing before God.  The true effect of God’s law is not to give us reason to boast but to show us our wicked hearts.  The path to God begins in humility.