READ ROMANS 2:17-29

This morning we are going to focus on Romans 2:21-25.

2:21-22 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"

The Apostle now begins to deliver a powerful argument. He starts with the piercing question, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” More specifically, he drills down upon the secret sins of hypocritical self-righteous Jews. They preached against stealing yet were guilty of dishonesty in their personal affairs. They preached against adultery but were secretly guilty of immorality themselves. They preached against idolatry but profited from secret dealings with shrines of idols. The word translated as "sacrilege" literally meant to rob a shrine of an idol. It may be that some Jews were guilty of overt theft of sacrifices left for presumed deities. It may rather have the sense of doing business with the shrines. It was common practice in the pagan Roman world of the first century for the temples or shrines of idols to sell excess meats and other foodstuffs at discount prices. What Paul is driving at here may be how Jews piously preached against idolatry and then bought groceries from these idolatrous shrines for cut-rate prices.

2:23-25 "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision."

Their utter hypocrisy was exposed. They, on the one hand, boasted themselves in the Law of God. Yet, they, privately breaking it, dishonored the God of the law. Therefore, they caused the name of God to be blasphemed among Gentiles who were aware of their hypocrisy. Ironically, they, who claimed to be the people of the righteous God, blasphemed Him by their private unrighteousness known to those about them.  Paul continues therefore to paraphrase the thought contained in Isaiah 52:5 that circumcision was truly profitable if a Jew kept the Law. However, in secretly breaking the Law, their circumcision became worthless, it was as uncircumcision. The Jews prided themselves on their circumcision and even used the term as a synonym for Judaism. Similarly, Gentiles were often referred to as ‘the uncircumcision’ which to them was a synonym for ungodliness. Paul, however, pointed out that by hypocritically breaking the Law in their private lives, they, in effect, were no different than a Gentile. They had, in effect, become ‘uncircumcision’.

We must be careful in our lives to make sure to walk our talk.  It is one thing to profess, it is quite another to be a doer as Romans 2:29 reminds us, "...He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."  We must live consistent lives before God and others.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  What is wrong with the statement, “Don’t do as I do, just do as I say?”

2.  Are there any areas in your life where you are hypocritical?  You pretend one thing but do another?  Why is it dangerous to live this way?

3.  How does our living inconsistently give occasion for others to speak ill of God and Christianity?

4.  Ultimately, what makes you different down deep inside? (Romans 2:29)