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2:1 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.
2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
2:3 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?
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2:5 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;
2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
2:12 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;
2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
2:14 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:
2:15 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;)
2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
2:27 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?
2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
2:29 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.

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Everything King James Bible:Romans

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Romans
Book: Romans
Chapter: 2

Overview:
The Jews could not be justified By the Law of Moses, any more
than the Gentiles By the Law of nature. (1-16) The sins of the
Jews confuted all their vain confidence in their outward
privileges. (17-29)

1-16 The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to
their privileges By right, while they were unthankful,
rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every
nation, Age, and description, must be reminded that the Judgment
of God will be according to their real character. The case is So
Plain, that we may Appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every
wilful Sin, there is contempt of the Goodness of God. And though
the branches of Man's disobedience are very various, all Spring
from the same root. But in true Repentance, there must be Hatred
of former sinfulness, from a change wrought in the state of the
mind, which disposes it to choose the good and to refuse the
evil. It shows also a sense of inward wretchedness. Such is the
great change wrought in Repentance, it is Conversion, and is
needed By every human being. The ruin of sinners is their
walking after a hard and impenitent Heart. Their sinful doings
are expressed By the strong words, "treasuring up wrath." In the
description of the just Man, notice the full demand of the Law.
It demands that the motives shall be pure, and rejects all
actions from earthly ambition or ends. In the description of the
unrighteous, contention is held forth as the principle of all
evil. The human will is in a state of Enmity against God. Even
Gentiles, who had not the written Law, had that within, which
directed them what to do By the Light of nature. Conscience is
a Witness, and first or last will Bear Witness. As they kept or
broke these natural laws and dictates, their consciences either
acquitted or condemned them. Nothing speaks more terror to
sinners, and more comfort to saints, than that Christ shall be
the Judge. Secret services shall be rewarded, secret sins shall
be then punished, and brought to Light.

17-24 The Apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows
of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession
and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in
God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud,
vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of
his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride
is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the
sins of professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion,
By their not living according to their profession. Many despise
their more ignorant neighbours who Rest in a dead form of
Godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally
void of Life and power, while some Glory in the Gospel, whose
unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.

25-29 No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without
regenerating Grace, which will always lead to seeking an
interest in the Righteousness of God By Faith. For he is No more
a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only
one outwardly: neither is that Baptism, which is outward in the
Flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true
believer, with an obedient Faith. And the true Baptism is that
of the Heart, By the Washing of Regeneration and the renewal of
the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a
willing following of Truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we
may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the
Heart and Spirit, not in the Letter; baptized, not with water
only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of
men, but of God.

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