God's Righteous Judgment
Study note
Paul addresses anyone who passes judgment on others while practicing the same sins, showing that such a person is without excuse. God's judgment is based on truth and is impartial, repaying each person according to their deeds. Paul warns that stubbornness and an unrepentant heart store up wrath, while patient endurance in doing good leads to eternal life. God shows no favoritism between Jew and Gentile.
1 So you have no room to talk, whoever you are, when you point fingers at others. Because when you judge someone else for doing wrong, you are condemning yourself, since you do the very same things. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 We all agree that when God judges people who do these things, he judges them fairly, based on the truth. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 This is what I want to ask you. Do you truly think you can judge others for doing wrong while doing the same things yourself? Do you think you will get away with it when God judges? And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or maybe you take for granted how exceedingly kind, patient, and gentle God is with you. Can you not see that his kindness is trying to get you to change your ways? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But you are stubborn and refuse to turn around. By doing that, you are piling up more and more trouble for yourself on the day when God will judge everyone fairly. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 On that day, God will give back to each person based on how they lived. Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 Some people keep doing good and never give up. They are looking for glory, honor, and a life that never ends. God will give them eternal life. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But others only care about themselves. They turn away from what is true and chase after what is wrong. Anger and fury are waiting for them. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Pain and suffering will come to every person who does evil. This applies to Jewish people first, and to non-Jewish people too. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honor, and peace will come to everyone who does good. This is for Jewish people first, and for non-Jewish people too. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 God treats everyone the same. He does not play favorites. For there is no respect of persons with God.
The Law and Conscience
Study note
Paul explains that both those with the law and those without it face judgment. Gentiles who do not possess the written law but follow its requirements by nature demonstrate that the law's demands are written on their hearts. Their conscience serves as an internal witness, sometimes accusing and sometimes defending them, pointing to a final day when God will judge all hidden things through Jesus Christ.
12 People who sinned without knowing God's written law will still face the results of their sin. And people who sinned while knowing God's law will be judged by that law. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 Hearing what the law says does not make you right with God. You have to do what it says. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 When non-Jewish people who never had the law naturally do what the law says, they become their own law. They do this even without having it written down. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Their actions prove that what the law requires is already printed on their hearts. Their own conscience backs this up -- sometimes their thoughts tell them they did wrong, and sometimes their thoughts tell them they did right. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 All of this will come out in the open on the day when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the hidden parts of every person's life. That is part of the good news I share. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Jewish Reliance on the Law
Study note
Paul directly addresses his Jewish audience, confronting the gap between knowing the law and keeping it. Those who boast in their relationship with God and claim to be guides for the blind are challenged: do they practice what they preach? The failure to live up to the law they teach causes God's name to be dishonored among the Gentiles, as the prophet Isaiah warned.
17 Now, suppose you call yourself Jewish and lean on having God's law and feel proud about knowing God. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 You know what God wants, and because you have been taught the law, you can tell the difference between right and wrong. And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 You are sure that you can guide people who cannot see the truth. You think you are a light for people living in the dark. And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 You believe you can teach people who do not understand and guide those who are just starting to learn. You think this because you have the full picture of knowledge and truth in the law. An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 So if you teach other people, why do you not teach yourself? You tell others not to steal -- do you steal? Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 You tell people not to be unfaithful in marriage -- are you unfaithful? You say you hate idols -- do you steal from their temples? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 You brag about having God's law -- but do you insult God by breaking it? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 The scriptures say it plainly: 'People in other nations speak badly about God because of how you act.' For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
True Circumcision of the Heart
Study note
Paul redefines what it means to be truly God's people. External circumcision has value only when accompanied by obedience to the law. A Gentile who keeps the law's requirements will judge the circumcised person who breaks it. True identity as God's people is an inward reality, a circumcision of the heart performed by the Spirit, not merely an outward mark in the flesh.
25 Being circumcised means something if you follow God's law. But if you break the law, being circumcised is no different from never being circumcised at all. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Think about it the other way. If someone who was never circumcised lives by what the law says, God will treat them as if they had been circumcised. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 In fact, the person who was never physically circumcised but follows the law will end up judging you. You have the written law and circumcision, but you still break it. And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 Being truly Jewish is not just about what shows on the outside. And real circumcision is not just something done to the body. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.