STUDY THE BIBLE, LIVE BY IT AND LOVE GOD

Passage: Romans 2:17-29

Key verse: 29

NIV

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(A) 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(B) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(C) 23 You who boast in the law,(D) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[a](E)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(F) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(G) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(H) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(I) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(J) who, even though you have the[b] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(K) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(L) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(M) by the Spirit,(N) not by the written code.(O) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(P)

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  2. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and (A)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 (B)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 (C)the embodiment of (D)knowledge and truth— 21 (E)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 (F)rob temples? 23 You who (G)boast in the law (H)dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, (I)as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed (J)among the Gentiles because of you.”

25 For circumcision indeed is of value (K)if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if (L)a man who is uncircumcised keeps (M)the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded[a] as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically[b] uncircumcised but keeps the law (N)will condemn you who have (O)the written code[c] and circumcision but break the law. 28 For (P)no one is a Jew (Q)who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one (R)inwardly, and (S)circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. (T)His praise is not from man but from God.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 2:26 Or counted
  2. Romans 2:27 Or is by nature
  3. Romans 2:27 Or the letter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God's name blasphemed among Gentiles (17-24)

One who knows the Bible--Jew or nominal Christian--must seek to obey it, and not live a double life. Just knowing the Bible does not save anyone--we must humbly obey God's word. When we teach, we must teach ourselves first. Bible teachers who do not teach themselves are a hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel to the world. In these verses Paul shows that religious people are the worst sinners of all.

2. Circumcise the heart (25-29)

Circumcision was a ritual performed on male Jewish babies which confirmed them as God's covenant people. But through the years, it had become just a ritual. Moses and Jeremiah both were aware of this problem; they both talked about circumcision of the heart. Circumcision of the heart is repentance; it is loving God (Dt 3

:6; Jer 4:4). When we repent, the Holy Spirit circumcises our hearts. Then we can live before God, not before men.

Prayer: Lord, circumcise my heart that I may love you and live by your word.

One Word: Practice what you preach