The Jews Are No Better than the Gentiles
My apologies for missing yesterday—I was so focused on our Wednesday night Bible study that I honestly just forgot about yesterday’s post. Below is two days’ worth of commentary. Happy Friday, everyone.
Today’s Scripture: Romans 2:12-3:8
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Paul is responding to an imaginary Jewish interlocutor who says, “We’re fine, Paul, because we have the Law.” (Remember, “the Law” is a shorthand way Paul has of referring to the entire Old Testament and specifically the Torah, the first 5 books of the Old Testament that God gave Moses in the wilderness so that the Israelites would know how to live as God’s people.)
Paul’s response:
It’s not having or hearing the Law that matters, but actually being obedient to God;
Plus, the Gentiles have the law of their own conscience, so they have something;
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Paul is pointing out to his imaginary Jewish interlocutor that being Jewish doesn’t count for anything—that circumcision, the sign of the covenant and of one’s membership in Israel—is a worthless sign if you aren’t actually obedient. Just saying, “Well, I’m an Israelite, so I can’t be condemned for my sins” won’t work.
3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
“Okay, smart guy, if Jews stand condemned in sin just as much as Gentiles, then what’s the point of being a Jew? Why did God choose Israel as his people?”
Well, says Paul, for one thing, the Jews were given God’s word [“the oracles of God'“]. And even if some Israelites were unfaithful, that doesn’t change the character of God.
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
“Okay,” says Paul’s interlocutor, “but if my sin shows God’s goodness, then doesn’t God kinda owe me for making him look good? Isn’t it good for Israel to sin, then, so that God can show his grace and righteousness? Shouldn’t we just sin more so God looks better? Why are we getting in trouble for making God look good?”
Paul says that anyone who thinks that way should be criticized, because that way of thinking is really twisted. After all, if God rewarded sin, then God would never right any wrongs or make any judgments. And that kind of God is no kind of God at all.
Remember, Paul’s main point in Romans 2-3 is that the Jews are no better off than the Gentiles, but are also totally sinful and in need of God’s grace.
We’re no different.