Jews can trace the gift of the law back to God’s interaction with Moses and the gift of the Ten Commandments. Not only did God free them from slavery in Egypt, but He also gave them directions on how to live best with Him and other people.
They were to model what a relationship with God looked like to the surrounding world. They had many attributes and qualities that were admirable. Unfortunately, like my young self when reading this passage, they often failed to live up to God’s will for them.
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law,
And if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,
You, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2.17-24).
When I first read this passage, I was a young pastor, and was trying to be a light to those who were in the darkness, a corrector of the foolish, and a teacher of children and adults.
Like every teacher, I needed to be taught. Like everyone who calls people to a certain form of behavior, I needed to hold myself to the same standard.
I’m thankful that I was able to look in the mirror with a dose of humility and ask God for help. Now, many years later, I still must do the same.
Paul’s Point
Paul’s point in this rather strong discussion was to remind fellow Jewish Christians of the need they have, just like the Gentiles, for the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
One pointed critique he gave to his brothers and sisters of Jewish background was that, due to their behavior, the name of God – God’s very reputation – was being blasphemed among the Gentiles.
I’m afraid that the same thing taking place today with Christians in America – the way we are talking to one another and some of the antics we pursue to grow church attendance – is causing the waiting world to say, “If that’s your God, I’m not interested.”
As a young preacher, I was encouraged to preach “the whole counsel of God.” I think the church today would do very well to do this when addressing culture war issues in America.
“The whole counsel of God” involves all that the Bible teaches. For example, take chapters 1-3 of Romans. You can’t read just a verse or two here and there from those passages and have the whole counsel of God.
While you may want to criticize someone’s sin that you don’t commit, if you read further into the passage, you’ll find the sin that you do commit and be convicted of doing it.
The best thing that could happen in American culture would be for the church, which is trying to teach others, to also teach itself.
May the old expressions that “everyone needs to sweep in front of their own door” and “every pot has to sit on its own bottom” apply to the church too.
Please join me in praying for church leaders across our country to be in deep communion with the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
As they are guided by Him in the written word in the Bible, may they lead us as the church to exemplify a Jesus kind of life to a world that needs to see Him for who He really is.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 