17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2:17-24
This passage is a very strong rebuke to the Jews for having an arrogance about their heritage, knowledge of the Word, believing they understand the will of God, and that they are to be a light to the world. If they have this and then do what is contrary to this swagger they carry, that is BAD news. The way Paul wraps this section up, says it all.
“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Romans 2:24
Sometimes I look at how Paul reinforces his points with being exhaustive about the various questions he asks and wonder why he spends so much time calling out the items he chooses…it’s because he knows his audience. I am sure he has been plagued with the “what about this” and “what about that’s” of the churches and believers living in this period of persecution and culture. He essentially “idiot proofs” his messages (letters).
APPLICATION
Sadly, we in our day need this too. The best takeaway I have found from reading scripture is to take a hermeneutical approach to reading and study. In almost all cases, what Paul has had to say can be directly applied to the world and situations I am in today. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is never wrong in how something is communicated in His Word…it is me who needs to get my understanding straight in terms of what the Lord means for us.