Romans 2:21 - The Jews Had Not Kept the Law

 

•        The Jews mistakenly believed themselves to be “guides for the (spiritually) blind, etc.” because they had been given God’s Law (through Moses)

 

•        What they failed to recognize is that it is not by hearing the Law that one becomes acceptable in God’s sight, but by (perfectly) keeping the Law.

 

•        Paul exposes the sinfulness of the Jews and their failure to keep the Law by asking a series of questions designed to show that the Jews committed the same sins for which they condemned the Gentiles!

 

•        Paul begins by asking: You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? (Romans 2:21). In other words, if they taught others to obey the Law, why did they not teach themselves to obey the Law?

 

•        Paul then cites a number of specific sins:

–       That the Jews had condemned in the Gentiles

–       But that the Jews were guilty of themselves!

 

•        The specific sins that Paul cites are:

–       Stealing (Romans 2:21)

–       Adultery (Romans 2:22)

–       Robbing (Heathen) Temples (Romans 2:22)

 

•        Paul then asks: You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (Romans 2:23). In other words, if they thought that receiving the Law showed that they had God’s favor, why did they turn around and dishonor God by breaking His Law?

 

•        Paul then points out that the Old Testament records (in Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22) occasions where, because of the Jews’ sinful behavior, the Gentiles blasphemed (spoke evil of) God!

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