Romans 2:17-24

Verses 17-18 5 Blessings the Jews have (v. 17)

Bear the name

They are shown to be covenant members outwardly, in name.

Rely upon the law

See Micah text below

Boast in God

Micah 3:11 “Her heads pronounce judgment for a bribe, And her priests instruct for a price, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on Yahweh saying, “Is not Yahweh in our midst? Evil will not come upon us.””

Make judgements from the law (18)

Instructed by the law (18)

Verses 19-20 4 prerogatives (rights)

Guides to the blind

Isaiah 42:19–20 “Who is blind but My servant, Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, Or so blind as the servant of Yahweh? You have seen many things, but you do not keep them; Your ears are open, but none hears.”

Matthew 23:16 ““Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is obligated.’”

Isaiah 42:6–7 ““I am Yahweh, I have called You in righteousness; I will also take hold of You by the hand and guard You, And I will give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who inhabit darkness from the prison.”

A light to those in darkness

Corrector of the foolish

Teacher of the immature

Again they have the law (v 20)

In this law they have knowledge and truth in a much more clear way than the gentiles

Romans 1:18-19 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

Verses 21-24 Hypocrisy and its fruit

This are very straight forward rhetorical questions

Do not do what they teach, yet teach others

they steal

they commit adultery

Abhor idols, do you rob temples

not necessarily sure what this refers to

Paul uses the singular you in verse 23

Concerned about individual sin

This hypocrisy leads to the name of God being blasphemed (v 24)

Paul uses Isaiah 52:5 to make a point

Here Paul places blame on the Jewish people for the fact that his name is blasphemed. “because of you”

He quotes the Septuagint rendering which includes reference to Israel’s sin.

My people have been taken away without cause. You marvel and cry out. And thus says the Lord:

“On account of you, continually my name is blasphemed among the nations.” (Isa. 52:5 LXX)

Isaiah 52:5 LSB

“So now, what do I have here,” declares Yahweh, “since My people have been taken away for nothing?” Yahweh declares, “Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.

Still does today

Our hypocrisy blasphemes God

Application

Don’t fake it

Don’t pretend to be joyful if you aren’t

Pray that theology moves from our heads to our hearts by the spirit of God