Romans 2:17-25

God's Judgment and the Law

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and d 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 e 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 f the embodiment of g knowledge and truth - 21 h 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 i rob temples? 23 You who j boast in the law k dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, l as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed m among the Gentiles because of you."

25 For circumcision indeed is of value n if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

  1. Cross References
    Romans 2:23
    You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
    Micah 3:11
    Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.
    Romans 9:4
    They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
    John 5:45
    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
  2. Cross References
    Job 29:15
    I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
    Matthew 15:14
    Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.
    Matthew 23:16
    "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
    John 9:39 - 41
    Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.
  3. Cross References
    2 Timothy 3:5
    Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
    Galatians 4:19
    My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
    2 Timothy 1:13
    Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 11:52
    Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 23:3 - 28
    So practice and observe whatever they tell you - but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
    Psalms 50:16 - 21
    But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
    Matthew 15:1 - 9
    Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 19:37
    For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
    Malachi 3:8
    Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 2:17
    But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
    Romans 3:27
    Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
  8. Cross References
    Malachi 1:6
    "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 52:5
    Now therefore what have I here," declares the Lord, "seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail," declares the Lord, "and continually all the day my name is despised.
  10. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:14
    Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.
    Ezekiel 36:20
    But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, 'These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.
    Ezekiel 36:23
    And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
    2 Peter 2:2
    And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 52:5
    Now therefore what have I here," declares the Lord, "seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail," declares the Lord, "and continually all the day my name is despised.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 5:3
    I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.