Romans 2:17-29 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 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 (Rom. 2:13) that not the hearers but the doers of the law are justified; and he here applies that great truth to the Jews. Observe, I. He allows their profession (Rom. 2:17-20) and specifies their particular pretensions and privileges in which they prided themselves, that they might see he did... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 2:17-29

2:17-29 If you are called by the name of Jew, if you take your rest in the Law, if you boast in God and know his will, if you give your approval to the excellent things, if you are instructed in the Law, if you believe yourself to be a leader of the blind, a light in darkness, and educator of the foolish, a teacher of the simple, if you believe yourself to have the very shape of knowledge and of truth in the Law--do you, then, who instruct another, not instruct yourself? Do you, who proclaim... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:17

Behold, thou art called a Jew ,.... From hence to the end of the chapter the Jews are particularly addressed; their several privileges and characters are commemorated, which by an ironical concession are allowed them; several charges are brought against them, even against their principal men; and the plea in favour of them, from their circumcision, is considered; and the apostle's view in the whole, is to show that they could not be justified before God by their obedience to the law of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:18

And knowest his will ,.... Not the secret will or purpose of God; nor his revealed will in the Gospel, for of this they were ignorant; but his declared will in the law, showing what is to be done, and what is not to be done: to know which in express terms was a privilege, that other people had not; but then the bare knowledge of this will be of no avail: for persons may know their Lord's will, as the Jews did, and not do it, and so be worthy to be beaten with many stripes: and approvest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:19

And art confident that thou thyself ,.... Being vainly puffed up in, their fleshly minds, they were strongly persuaded that they were very fit persons to be a guide to the blind : all men are by nature blind, as to the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; the meaner sort of the people among the Jews seem to be intended here; or else the ignorant Gentiles, whom the Jews were very fond of making proselytes to their religion and laws; but miserable guides were they, whether to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:20

An instructor of the foolish ,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה , "an instructor": it follows, a teacher of babes ; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews מלמדי תינוקות , "teachers of babes". Thus they paraphrase the text in Daniel 12:3 , "they that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ?.... Several charges are here brought against the Jews, even against their teachers; for though they are put by way of question, they are to be considered as so many assertions and matters of fact; thus, though they taught others, they did not teach themselves; they were blind leaders of the blind; they were ignorant of the law, of the spirituality of it; they were desirous to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:22

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery ,.... Adultery here is to be taken not figuratively for adulterating the word of God, and mixing it with their own inventions; but literally for the sin of adultery, and that not in heart only, but in act: dost thou commit adultery ? an iniquity which greatly prevailed among the Jews at this time of day; hence Christ calls them "an adulterous generation", Matthew 12:39 ; and that to such a degree, that by the advice of their great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:23

Thou that makest thy boast of the law ,.... Of their having it, which other nations had not; of their knowledge of it, which many of their own people were without, or had but a small share of; and of their keeping of it even to perfection: through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God ? sin sometimes is expressed by a word which signifies a "fall"; sometimes by another, which signifies missing of the mark, or straying from it; sometimes by another, which signifies a "contrariety to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:24

For the name of God is blasphemed ,.... The being and perfections of God, such as his holiness, omniscience, and omnipotence, are denied, or evil spoken of; and also the law of God, and the forms of worship instituted by him: among the Gentiles through you : through their iniquities, who when they observe them, conclude that the God of Israel is not omniscient, or he would know, and take notice of these things; and that he is not holy, or he could not bear them; nor omnipotent, or he... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 2:17-29

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 2:17-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:24

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