“Thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds." It is solemnly important that every one who reads these lines, should think of having to do with God. How can the sinner escape that judgment?
Reader, are you among "those who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life," or are you among those "that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," upon whom comes "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish?" For this will come upon every soul of man that doeth evil, 'of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. But to the believer in Christ-the only one who can have good works,-it will be glory, honor and peace, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for "there is no respect of persons with God.”
Those who have sinned without law, shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. This is true of all who have died without Christ, except those who have professed Christ's name, yet have not been born again, will have this terrible sin added to all their sins,-that they have not put on the wedding garment. (Matt. 22;12.) These stand in their own self-righteous rags. (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6).) The 'believer has on God's righteousness in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).)
Verses 13-15 are a parenthesis. A godly Gentile was more to God than an ungodly Jew, though the Jew had greater privileges. So here it is not the hearers, but the doers of the law, that are justified before God. The Gentiles were never put under law before God, yet they have a conscience that tells them it is wrong to lie, murder, steal, etc. The law gives that which is every man's duty to God and to his neighbor, except the fourth commandment, which was given only to Israel, and this shows, not the law, but the work of the law written in their hearts, so that their conscience bears witness, and their thoughts, the meanwhile, keep accusing or excusing one another.
Verse 16. This is not judgment on earth; it is the wrath of God from heaven (1:18), and it will find out the very secrets of the heart when God shall judge men according to Paul's gospel by Jesus Christ, that is, the gospel of the glory, which witnesses to man's sin, and to God 's righteousness.
Verses 17-29. The boasting Jew is next seen, but God looks at the heart, and not at the outward privileges, which if not taken advantage of, and walked in, serve only to condemn. The word "Jew" means "praise", so it is the one who is humbled in heart before God, whose praise is not of men, but of God, that shall not be condemned. The law in which the Jew boasts, condemns him, for he cannot keep it, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
In Chapter 3:1-8 this is proved. The Jews had privileges, especially having had the oracles of God committed to them. God's Word wood ever stand true, though some of them did not believe. God must punish sin, and if not sheltered by the grace of God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness must be maintained in the judgment of sin. On the other hand, those who said, "Let us do evil, that good may come," deserve damnation.
Verses 9-19. He quotes the Psalms and the prophets to show the Jews what the law says to them who are under it, and we see that which is true of these privileged ones, proves that the whole world is guilty before God. What a description is found here of man at his best-all under sin,-none righteous,-none that understandeth,-none that seeketh after God,-all gone out of the way,-together become unprofitable, none that doeth good,-their throat is an open sepulcher,-with their tongues they have used deceit,-the poison of asps is under their lips,-their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness,-their feet are swift to shed blood,-destruction and misery are in their ways,-the way of peace have they not known,-no fear of God before their eyes! All this is true of us by nature, nor can we be any different till the grace of God is received into our hearts, giving us new life, and the forgiveness of sins. How sweeping this is, ALL THE WORLD guilty before God!
Verse 20 adds, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Except we realize God's forgiveness, we must be condemned to eternal woe. Justice must condemn; grace can forgive.