I remember reading Romans 2 for the first time as a young and inexperienced preacher. I didn’t yet understand the complexities of the passage, but I was struck by one clear message: God condemns those who judge others while committing the very same sins themselves. That realization stopped me in my tracks.
Below is a portion of Paul’s message.
Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.
We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.
Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed (Romans 2.1-5).
Just as Paul condemned spiritual pride among the Romans, Ezekiel addressed the spiritual pride of the exiles and those remaining in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel claimed that the behavior of his fellow Israelites would serve as a consolation to two despised societies, Sodom and Samaria, because the Israelites’ conduct was even worse than that of these notorious nations (Ezekiel 16.53-55).
There was a time when Sodom was a byword among all respectable nations. Her sin was widely known, and people spoke of her with scorn, much like we sometimes try to make ourselves taller by standing on top of others (Ezekiel 16.56-57).
Similar to Paul’s message to the Romans, Ezekiel points out that the real issue was pride and that the nation’s sin was, in fact, a mockery of the judgment they levied on other people.
I often quote Jesus’s teaching on judging others, but it’s worth emphasizing again here. We must take His words to heart—not only refraining from condemning others but also ensuring that our own lives align with God’s will.
Jesus taught: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye” (Matthew 7.1-5).
Restoration
I was a guest speaker at a small gathering where one of the men shared his story. He was a highly successful developer who had achieved many impressive things, yet he was also an alcoholic. In a moment of utter despair, he walked to a bridge, determined to end his life by jumping off.
As he neared the spot where he planned to jump, he felt the Lord speak to his heart, saying, “Give your life to me.” He turned back, found the first AA hall he could, and began his journey to sobriety.
He also sought out a nearby church, gave his life to Jesus, and has been faithfully serving God ever since.
This story reflects the image God ends Ezekiel 16 with—a God who, in His grace, speaks to His people and restores them.
I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, in order that you may remember and be confounded and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I forgive you all that you have done, says the Lord God (Ezekiel 16:62-63).
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 