Right Back at You

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see what’s wrong in other people, and completely miss it in yourself? We’re experts at spotting the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in our own.

That’s exactly what Paul addresses in Romans 2. After exposing the moral decay of the non-Jewish world in chapter 1, Paul turns his attention to a different group, the moral and religious people, especially his fellow Jews, who thought they were better. They agreed with Paul about how sinful the Gentiles were but failed to realize that they were just as guilty before God.

In chapter 1, Paul showed that those who reject God’s truth become corrupt.

In chapter 2, he shows that those who rely on their goodness become self-deceived.

Here’s the main point of this passage:

God’s judgment is always fair, and no one escapes it by comparison or religion.

Paul lays out three ways God judges: by truth, by works, and by light received.

1. God Judges According to Truth (vv. 1–4)

Paul starts off strong:

Romans 2:1 NKJV

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Bible scholars don’t agree on whom Paul was addressing in Romans 2:1–16.

Some think he was dealing with the moral pagan who did not commit the sins named in Romans 1:18–32, but who sought to live a moral life.

But it seems to me that Paul was addressing his Jewish readers in this section.

To begin with, his discussion of the Law in Romans 2:12–16 would have been more meaningful to a Jew than to a Gentile. And in Romans 2:17, he openly addressed his reader as “a Jew.” This would be a strange form of address if in the first half of the chapter he were addressing Gentiles.

Paul says, “Now, to you judge everyone else. Or those of you who “evaluate or condemn.”

Paul isn’t saying we can’t make moral discernments; he’s saying we can’t pass judgment on others as if we’re morally superior.

His Jewish readers had been nodding along through chapter 1, “That’s right, amen, Paul! Those Gentiles are awful!” But Paul turns the mirror on them and says, “You do the same things.”

If we look back at chapter 1 verses 29-31, I can guarantee every Jew, and everyone of us in this room is guilty of at least one or more of the sins mentioned in these verses.

Did you ever envy anyone? Deceive someone? Come on, did you ever tell the person who answered the phone to say you weren’t home, or that you were “busy” because you didn’t want to talk to someone? That’s deceit.

Or unforgiving? Oooh, that one hurt. Or what about being morally proud, lacking mercy? See? We’re all inexcusable.

The word inexcusable—anapologētos—means “without defense.” In other words, no one has an excuse before God, not even the moral person or the religious person.

Paul says in verse 2:

Romans 2:2–3 NKJV

2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

That word truth—alētheia— here is key. God doesn’t judge by appearances, feelings, or comparisons. He judges according to reality. What is true about God, and what is true about us.

And then Paul asks the piercing question in verse 4:

Romans 2:4 NKJV

4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

The Greek word for goodness is chrēstotēs, meaning “benevolence in action.” God’s kindness isn’t permission to sin; it’s an invitation to change.

Don’t mistake God’s patience for His approval. His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance, not complacency.

Next we see…

2. God Judges According to Works (vv. 5–11)

Ok, before you think Paul is contradicting himself and saying now that salvation is achieved by works, hear me out.

Paul is now moving from motive to evidence.

Romans 2:5 NKJV

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

The word hardness here is sklērótēs—where we get our word sclerosis, a hardening. Paul’s saying that every time we resist God’s truth, we add another layer of spiritual plaque to our hearts.

And then he lays down this principle in verse 6 and following:

Romans 2:6–10 NKJV

6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

That doesn’t mean salvation by works; it means judgment by evidence. Your deeds reveal what’s in your heart.

Paul then contrasts two kinds of people:

Those who seek God’s glory, honor, and immortality, in other words, they live for God’s kingdom.

And those who are self-seeking and reject the truth.

He says in verse 11:

Romans 2:11 NKJV

11 For there is no partiality with God.

The word partiality literally means “to receive face”, it was a term used for favoritism. God doesn’t play favorites. Whether Jew or Gentile, religious or irreligious, everyone stands equal before Him.

We need to stop comparing ourselves to others; start conforming ourselves to Christ.

And then…

3. God Judges According to Light Received (vv. 12–16)

Paul brings it home with a principle that makes God’s judgment perfectly fair:

Romans 2:12–14 NKJV

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

He’s saying God holds people accountable for what they know. The Gentiles didn’t have the written Law, but they did have conscience. The Jews had the Law, but they disobeyed it.

The word conscience in verse 15 is syneidēsis—literally “co-knowledge.” It’s that inner awareness of right and wrong God built into every person.

Gentiles who “do by nature the things contained in the law” show that God’s moral law is written on their hearts. But that doesn’t make them innocent, it just means they, too, are accountable for the truth they know.

Paul finishes in verse 16:

Romans 2:16 NKJV

16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

The word secrets means “hidden things.” God’s judgment won’t just cover what’s visible; it will expose motives, thoughts, and intentions. And notice who the Judge is—Jesus Christ. The One who died for sin will one day judge all sin.

Action Step: Live every day as if Jesus will examine not just your actions, but your motives.

I’ve heard it said that we judge other people’s motives by their actions and judge our actions by our motives.

In other words we paint others actions with a broad brush of condemnation, and judge ourselves thinking we’re not guilty because we think we had the right motives.

The old saying is true, “When we point our finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at us.

In other words, Paul is saying, you condemn others and think you’re moral and religious, right back at you.

Paul’s message is clear:

God’s judgment is according to truth—so hypocrisy won’t fool Him.

God’s judgment is according to works—so pretense won’t protect you.

God’s judgment is according to light received—so ignorance won’t excuse you.

The moral person, the religious person, the kind person, all stand in need of the same gospel as the pagan in chapter 1.

Here’s the big takeaway:

You can’t escape God’s judgment by comparing yourself to others. The only way to escape it is by trusting Jesus Christ.

Paul’s not trying to shame us; he’s trying to prepare us. God’s judgment isn’t meant to crush. It’s meant to convict. It’s God’s kindness that leads to repentance.

So before you point fingers at anyone else, take a look in the mirror. And remember, if not for the mercy of God, every one of us would stand condemned.

Because in the end, judgment isn’t about who’s better. It’s about who’s forgiven.