Introduction
After exposing the outward rebellion and idolatry of the nations in Romans 1, Paul turns the mirror inward. He warns that knowledge, morality and even Torah itself does not exempt anyone from judgment- if it is not lived out.
The same standard applies to all: hearing truth without obedience does not produce righteousness.
2:1 Therefore indefensible you are, O man, each one who is judging. That what you judge the other for you are condemning yourself, because you, the judge, practice the same things.
2:2 We know however that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who practice such things.
2:3 Do you suppose, O man, you the one who condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself- that you will escape the judgment of God?
2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to metanoia?(repentance: a change of mind from the inner man)
2:5 However, because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
2:6 He will give back to each one according to his deeds
This is an idea which is reoccurring in Scripture:
And to you YHVH [belongs] mercy, for You render to each one according to his deeds.
– Psalms 62:12
Compare to Yeshua saying:
Is about indeed the Son of Man to come in the glory of the Father and with His angels, and then He will give each one according to their deeds.
– Matthew 16:27
In the time of Yeshua and Paul:
- Resurrection was expected (I’ll make a later post on Sheol)
- Judgment was expected
- Deeds mattered as evidence of faithfulness
This is why they both speak on the subject without explaining- it was common knowledge in Jewish culture.
This is also stated in Revelations 20:12-13 & 22:12
2:7 to those who indeed with endurance in good works, seeking His glory and honor and immortality, He will grant life eternal
2:8 but for those who are self-seeking, disobeying the truth, being persuaded by unrighteousness, however, vengeance and wrath.
2:9 There will be tribulation and distress upon every soul of man working evil, the Jew first and even also the Greek,
2:10 However glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, the Jew first and also even the Greek.
2:11 For there is no partiality with God
2:12 For as many as have sinned without Torah will also perish without Torah, and all who have sinned under Torah will be judged by Torah.
This is a commonly misunderstood verse-
Paul is saying this to the Romans because they have not had Torah- Before Messiah, they had not been given it, they had not been instructed upon it. Therefore they cannot be judged by standards they aren’t aware of.
Those that have knowledge of it though, will be held accountable to it.
This is paralleling the same idea in Yeshua’s Parable in Luke 12:42-47 :
- “Blessed is the servant who’s master finds him doing so when he comes”
- “The servant having known the will of his master… will be beaten much”
- “The one however not knowing and having done things worthy of stripes will be beaten with few.”
2:13 For it is not merely the hearers of Torah who are righteous before God, but the doers of Torah will be justified.
Paul is setting a standard here, not declaring perfect success; he’s laying out a principle of judgment: God judges impartially, so obedience is what would justify a person-
So if someone truly did the Torah flawlessly, they would be justified. The problem Paul raises is that, in reality, all have failed in some way.
“Doers” vs “hearers” is a rebuke here, not a claim that people were succeeding. He’s correcting people who think knowing Torah knowledge is enough.
His point is: “You don’t get credit for hearing it- only doing it counts.”
2:14 Indeed when Gentiles, not possessing Torah, by nature do these things of Torah, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not possess Torah.
2:15 They show that the work of Torah is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and between one another, the thoughts accusing and also defending them
2:16 on that day when God will judge the secrets of men according to my gospel by Yeshua Messiah
Paul is making a direct reference to the Prophecies in Jeremiah 31 & Ezekiel 36:
But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days says YHVH. I will put my Torah in their minds and on their hearts I will write it, and I will be their God and they will be My people.
– Jeremiah 31:33
And My Spirit I will put within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and My judgements you will keep and do them.
– Ezekiel 36:27
The Gentiles, not having Torah but having the Spirit will be convicted to desire obedience
- Heart in both Hebrew and Greek understanding mean inner person, mind & intention
- Meaning even without Torah knowledge they will know general “right from wrong”
- But in having Torah knowledge (having it read on the Sabbath for example) they will be convicted to walk in the ways according to the righteousness of God
Therefore the Spirit of God within them, brought from entrance into the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31) by their faith alone, on Yom YHVH (the Day of the Lord) will either accuse or defend them based on whether based on the knowledge they possessed, and whether they rejected or submitted to truth.
2:17 But if you call yourself a Jew and trust in Torah and proudly glorify by God
2:18 and know His will and prove what is valuable, because you are instructed from Torah
2:19 and if you are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
2:20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the unlearned, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in Torah
2:21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you proclaim against stealing, do you steal?
2:22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?
(violate or misuse what is sacred and holy)
2:23 You who boast in Torah dishonor God by transgressing Torah.
2:24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Paul isn’t saying “you cant keep the law so don’t follow it at all.”
The issue is hypocrisy- the same problem Yeshua was correcting among the Pharisees.
He’s identifying specific Jews in the community who claim to be perfectly righteous, a guide to others- teachers; not common people but those in authority positions.
Some in the community were stating themselves to be more righteous than the believing Gentiles, relying on their status as Abrahamic Covenant members by circumcision– but forgetting the other components of Torah: namely
“Love thy neighbor” -Leviticus 19:18
Because of this, Gentile believers were becoming discouraged and questioning their faith.
Paul calls back to Isaiah 52 When the Yisraelites were in exile because of their disobedience:
Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “that My people were taken away for nothing? Those ruling over them howl,” declares YHVH, “and continually all the day My name is blasphemed.
– Isaiah 52:5
Because of their disobedience, the Gentiles mocked them and thought – how powerful can their God really be if they are under our rule now?
Paul is telling them ‘You are repeating the exact sin that led to our exile’.
2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey Torah, but if you transgress Torah, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
2:26 Therefore if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of Torah, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
2:27 And will judge he who is uncircumcised by nature but fulfills Torah [will condemn] you who have the written document and circumcision but are a transgressor of Torah.
2:28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward in the flesh.
2:29 But he who is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, his praise is not out of man but out of God.
Another call back to Torah-
“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and no longer be stiff necked“
– Deuteronomy 10:16
Paul is saying what makes you a part of the covenant is not flesh–
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