18 and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.
Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every writing inspired by God{literally, God-breathed} is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.
You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,
That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
He shows his word to Jacob; His statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!
The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For your commandments are always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept your precepts.
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,