The Jews Are Not Better Than The Gentiles

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Romans 2:17-24

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.”

 
 

Paul has just spoken of the coming Judgment Day, at which everyone will be judged. Now, he responds to an imaginary Jewish interlocutor who says, “We’re fine, Paul, because we have the Law, and so we’re better than other people and don’t have to worry about judgment.”

(Remember, “the Law” is a shorthand way Paul has of referring to the entire Old Testament and specifically the Torah, the first five 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 has just told us:

• 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 actually are not ignorant of God's command.

Here, he goes on to talk about how the Jews have indeed had the Law, but that they didn’t abide by it!

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.” [2:17-24]

Paul’s point: God gave the Ten Commandments and the other laws to teach Israel how to live well, but Israel ended up just committing the very same sins that the Law forbade.

You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? [2:22]

Israel was meant to be a blessing to the nations and to point the Gentiles back to God, but the result of Jewish disobedience is that the Gentiles are farther away from God than ever:

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.” [2:23-24]

We modern Christians need to reflect long and hard on what Paul is saying here. One of the surest ways to discredit the Lord is through sin in the church. When we who profess the name of Christ live just as sinfully as our unbelieving neighbors, we become a stumbling block to them, because they don’t see the Gospel as making any everyday difference in our lives.

Today, where do you need to repent—turn around, change—so that you better represent Jesus to the world?