Romans 2:1-2

Scripture and points

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.[1]

1. There is no excuse for anyone who sits in the judgement seat.

2. Pointing a finger highlights our responsibility.

3. God sits on the seat of judgement.

1. There is no excuse for anyone who sits in the judgement seat.

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges.

Paul spent much of the first chapter showing that the righteous requirements of God could not be met—not the pagans who practice lawlessness in the eyes of the Jews or the Jews who seem to have caught themselves in a trap. As they step on their soap box and begin to belittle the pagans, they point the finger at all that is wrong with the lives of the Gentiles. It is Paul here who reminds them that pointing one finger at the Gentiles leaves three fingers pointing back at them. None are righteous! And Paul is highlighting this inconsistency. If those who are not God’s chosen people are without excuse, then how much greater is the weight of conviction for those who have been given the law? The point of the law, after all, was to point the Jews to their need for saving. Instead, it caused them to get puffed up and believe they were above everyone else.

I would like to tell a story. “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!

2. Pointing a finger highlights our responsibility.

“For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”

How quickly David passed judgement against another when he himself had trespassed in such a way. David had taken Uriah’s wife and had him killed and yet was so quick to pass judgment on the man from the story. Much like any of us, David is quick to overlook his own sin and to highlight the sins of another. Even calling out what a fitting punishment for that individual would be.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

In Celebrate Recovery and other such support groups we would call this taking someone else’s inventory. It is easy work to walk around highlighting the shortcomings and sins of another but far more difficult to look at our own lives. I don’t know about you, but i sure don’t like one finger pointed at me, let alone three. I believe i will allow someone else to sit in the judgement seat and try not to do any finger pointing.

3. God sits on the seat of judgement.

Why will i not do any finger pointing? It is because, “We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.” I do not need to be the one doing the policing. First, because I am not righteous and just. I am a man living in a fallen world with selfish desires. Secondly, the seat is already taken. God sits in judgement and not I. The first verses I ever really spent time chewing on were these verses, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[h] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”