17 But as for you who have the name of Jew, and are resting on the law, and take pride in God,
18 And have knowledge of his desires, and are a judge of the things which are different, having the learning of the law,
19 In the belief that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those in the dark,
20 A teacher of the foolish, having in the law the form of knowledge and of what is true;
21 You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours?
22 You who say that a man may not be untrue to his wife, are you true to yours? you who are a hater of images, do you do wrong to the house of God?
23 You who take pride in the law, are you doing wrong to the honour of God by behaviour which is against the law?
24 For the name of God is shamed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is said in the holy Writings.
25 It is true that circumcision is of use if you keep the law, but if you go against the law it is as if you had it not.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Romans 2
Commentary on Romans 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
The scope of the first two chapters of this epistle may be gathered from ch. 3:9, "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin.' This we have proved upon the Gentiles (ch. 1), now in this chapter he proves it upon the Jews, as appears by v. 17, "thou art called a Jew.'
Rom 2:1-16
In the former chapter the apostle had represented the state of the Gentile world to be as bad and black as the Jews were ready enough to pronounce it. And now, designing to show that the state of the Jews was very bad too, and their sin in many respects more aggravated, to prepare his way he sets himself in this part of the chapter to show that God would proceed upon equal terms of justice with Jews and Gentiles; and now with such a partial hand as the Jews were apt to think he would use in their favour.
Rom 2:17-29
In the latter part of the chapter the apostle directs his discourse more closely to the Jews, and shows what sins they were guilty of, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. He had said (v. 13) that not the hearers but the doers of the law are justified; and he here applies that great truth to the Jews. Observe,