Notes on the Jews and the Law

Romans 2:17 - 29

Paul holds the Jews accountable under the New Covenant. They can no longer claim righteousness through the Old Covenant. Their only salvation can only come through Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

• You are called a Jew and relax in the law and boast of God.

Romans 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

• if you know his will and approve of what is good because you know it is in accordance with the law.

Romans 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

• if you are a guide for those who can not see and are a light to those in darkness.
• Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
• A teacher of the foolish, a teacher of children, because you see the knowledge and truth in the law.

Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

• You teach others but do you educate yourself. You say a man should not steal but do you steal?

Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

• You say a man should not commit adultery but do you cheat on your wife? You hate false gods, but do you commit sacrilege

Romans 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

• You brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

• It is written that the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles by your actions.
• Paul may be paraphrasing Ezekiel 36:22 or Isaiah 52:5

Romans 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

• Circumcision is good if you keep the law. But if you break the law then the good of circumcision is undone.

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

• If those who are not circumcised keep the law shall they be considered circumcised.

Romans 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

• The one who is not circumcised physically and still obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you who have the written code and circumcision, break the law.

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

• A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision only a physical change. .

Romans 2:29 But 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.

• No a man is a Jew if he is one in his heart and the circumcision is of the heart. Circumcision is by the spirit not the law. Such a man's is from God not his fellow man.

Romans Chapter 2 - Full Text

Isaiah 52:5

Ezekiel 36:22

Romans 2:17 - 29