Romans 2:21-23 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 2:21

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore - Dr. Taylor has paraphrased this and the three following verses thus: "What signify your pretensions to knowledge, and the office of teaching others, if you have no regard to your own doctrine? What are you the better for preaching against theft, if you are a thief yourself? Or for declaring adultery unlawful, if you live in the practice of it? Or for representing idolatry abominable, if you are guilty of sacrilege? What honors or singular favors do you deserve, if, while you... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:21

Verse 21 21.Thou, who then teachest another, teachest not thyself, etc. (82) Though the excellencies (encomia — commendations) which he has hitherto stated respecting the Jews, were such as might have justly adorned them, provided the higher ornaments were not wanting; yet as they included qualifications of a neutral kind, which may be possessed even by the ungodly and corrupted by abuse, they are by no means sufficient to constitute true glory. And hence Paul, not satisfied with merely... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:22

Verse 22 22.Thou who abhorrest idols, etc. He fitly compares sacrilege to idolatry, as it is a thing of the same kind; for sacrilege is simply a profanation of the Divine Majesty, a sin not unknown to heathen poets. On this account Ovid (Metamor. 3,) callsLycurgus sacrilegious for despising the rites of Bacchus; and in his Fasti he calls those sacrilegious hands which violated the majesty of Venus. But as the Gentiles ascribed the majesty of their gods to idols, they only thought it a sacrilege... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:23

Verse 23 23.Thou who gloriest in the law, etc. Though every transgressor dishonors God, (for we are all born for this end — to serve him in righteousness and holiness;) yet he justly imputes in this respect a special fault to the Jews; for as they avowed God as their Lawgiver, and yet had no care to form their life according to his rule, they clearly proved that the majesty of their God was not so regarded by them, but that they easily despised him. In the same manner do they at this day... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-29

( b ) Those who judge others, not excepting the Jews. Here a new stage of the argument, in proof of the position propounded in Romans 1:18 , begins, and is continued to the end of the chapter. The position to be proved is that all mankind is guilty before God (see note on Romans 1:18 ). So far this has been shown with regard to the mass of the heathen world; its general moral corruption, prevalent and condoned, having been pointed out finally as a glaring proof; the main point of... 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 2:21

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-29

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