2:1-11
In the previous section, Paul addressed God’s wrath and judgment on the Gentiles for their sins and rejection of God.
In this section, Paul addresses God’s judgment on the Jews. We know that because verse 1 refers to them as “everyone of you who judges”. The Jews judged all Gentiles to be immoral and inferior to the Jews who had been given the law of God.
But, Paul warned the Jews that they were without excuse just as the Gentiles were, because, when they passed judgment on the Gentiles for their behavior, they showed that they knew such behavior was sinful. The Jews did judge the Gentiles as less moral and religious because they were not Jews.
They wrongly believed that they were entitled to special indulgences from God when they sinned. But, Paul said they condemned themselves since they did the same things. And the judgment of God falls on those who practice these sinful ways. (2)
Paul also warned the Jews against presuming the would escape judgment because of their covenant status with God. Although the nation had often violated the covenant and suffered for it, God had forgiven and restored them multiple times. That made them think their status made them immune from judgment.
In fact, God’s kindness and forbearance of judgment on the Jews was not giving the Jews a pass for their sins, but to lead them to repentance. (4) But their presumptuous sinning and hardened hearts resulted in storing up wrath that God will unleash on them at the judgment. (5)
That is because God will not distinguish between Jew and Gentile at the judgment. He will judge according to their works whether or not they are Jews. Those who do well will receive eternal life. Those who are disobedient and unrighteous will receive wrath and fury. (8) He will not show partiality to the Jews. They receive judgment first if they are unrighteous. (Remember that he is speaking here about judgment to show the need for salvation. Those who are in Christ, who are saved, will not face God’s wrath. Paul will develop this later.)
Judgment And Responsibility - The Jews
2:12-13
God’s judgment is universal. Every person will be judged by God. They will be judged according to the revelation they have. The Jews, who had the law, will be judged by the law. “Law” means the rules and regulations of the Old Covenant. Those are summarized by the Ten Commandments, not limited to them.
Some Jews evidently thought that having the law given to them made them acceptable to God by itself. But Paul pointed out that it is obedience to the law that is essential, not just having it and being taught it. (13)
Judgment And Responsibility - The Gentiles
2:14-16
Here Paul inserts a digression from the responsibility of the Jews, to discussing the responsibility of the Gentiles.
Even though they did not have the law, Gentiles are judged also. They are judged by their conscience, this is formed by God and witnesses to them of God’s standards. For example, every society condemns murder and theft. They all have laws, many of which reflect God’s law. Some, of course, fall away from those standards as their culture drifts further from God.
Judgment And Responsibility - The Jews (Continued)
2:17-29
Verse 17 returns to Paul’s discourse on the responsibility of the Jews regarding the law. He sets this out in detail. He pointed out the pride of the Jews, their boasting of their special relation to God that is evidenced by his giving them the law. They considered themselves guides to the blind, instructors of the foolish and the children, and knowing the truth.
If that is the case, Paul condemns them for not following their own teaching. They commit the sins they condemn. Paul says they dishonor God by breaking the law they boast in having. (23)
He cited Isaiah 52:5 (or Ezekiel 36:20-23) where God accused Israel of blaspheming (profaning) his name among the Gentiles because of their idolatry and other sins.
In fact, Paul says a Jew who does not obey the law is not a Jew. Jews were distinguished from Gentiles with an outward sign: circumcision. But the outward sign is not enough to be a true Jew. If a Jew does not live by the law, he effectively becomes a Gentile. His circumcision becomes uncircumcision (25)
Conversely, one who keeps the law, though physically uncircumcised, becomes as a true Jew, part of Israel, through his obedience. These condemn those who are outwardly Jewish but break the law.
Verses 28-29 are a summary of this. It is not the physical signs that are important, but the condition of the heart (obedience). This person, with a circumcised heart, seeks to please God. He does not seek to please men with his outward conformity.
This teaching is not entirely new to Paul. The Old Testament also used the metaphor of circumcision to mean the changing of the heart from disobedience to obedience.
For example, in Deuteronomy 10:16, when Moses presented the Israelites with the second tablets of the commandments, he told them to “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” He wanted them to repent and commit to obeying the law of the covenant.
Also, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah told Israel that when God restored them from captitivity, they should:
“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of the evil of your deeds.”
Also, the Old Testament spoke of physical circumcision not being enough to please God: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh…” (Jeremiah 9:25).
So, in his teaching, Paul is not speaking a new doctrine. He is teaching what is told in the Old Testament and applying it to in the New Testament context. He is also setting the stage for his teaching that there will not be two different kinds of the people of God, but one community, one people, united in Christ to the glory of God.
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