21 Therefore you have no excuse , everyone e of you who passes judgment , for in that which you judge another , you condemn yourself ; for you who judge practice the same things . 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly e falls upon those who practice such things . 3 But do you suppose this , O man , when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God ? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience , not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance ? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God , 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS : 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality , eternal life ; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth , but obey unrighteousness , wrath and indignation . 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil , of the Jew first and also of the Greek , 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good , to the Jew first and also to the Greek . 11 For there is no partiality with God . 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 just before God , but the doers of the Law will be justified . 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law , these , not having the Law , are a law to themselves , 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts , their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when , according to my gospel , God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus .
17 But if you bear the name "Jew " and rely upon the Law and boast in God ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 2:1-17
Commentary on Romans 2:1-16
(Read Romans 2:1-16)
The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every nation, age, and description, must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their real character. The case is so plain, that we may appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every wilful sin, there is contempt of the goodness of God. And though the branches of man's disobedience are very various, all spring from the same root. But in true repentance, there must be hatred of former sinfulness, from a change wrought in the state of the mind, which disposes it to choose the good and to refuse the evil. It shows also a sense of inward wretchedness. Such is the great change wrought in repentance, it is conversion, and is needed by every human being. The ruin of sinners is their walking after a hard and impenitent heart. Their sinful doings are expressed by the strong words, "treasuring up wrath." In the description of the just man, notice the full demand of the law. It demands that the motives shall be pure, and rejects all actions from earthly ambition or ends. In the description of the unrighteous, contention is held forth as the principle of all evil. The human will is in a state of enmity against God. Even Gentiles, who had not the written law, had that within, which directed them what to do by the light of nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they kept or broke these natural laws and dictates, their consciences either acquitted or condemned them. Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more comfort to saints, than that Christ shall be the Judge. Secret services shall be rewarded, secret sins shall be then punished, and brought to light.
Commentary on Romans 2:17-24
(Read Romans 2:17-24)
The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion, by their not living according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.