Romans 2:17-29
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But if you call yourself a Jew and d rely on the law and boast in God
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and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
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and if you are sure that you yourself are e a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
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an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law f the embodiment of g knowledge and truth -
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h you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
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You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you i rob temples?
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You who j boast in the law k dishonor God by breaking the law.
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For, l as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed m among the Gentiles because of you."
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For circumcision indeed is of value n if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
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So, if o a man who is uncircumcised keeps p the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
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Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law q will condemn you who have r the written code and circumcision but break the law.
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For s no one is a Jew t who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
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But a Jew is one u inwardly, and v circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. w His praise is not from man but from God.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?'
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Galatians 5:3
I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
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Cross References
Ephesians 2:11
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands -
Romans 3:30
Since God is one - who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
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Cross References
Romans 1:32
Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 8:4
In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
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Cross References
Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
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Cross References
Romans 2:29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Romans 7:6
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
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Cross References
Romans 9:6 - 8
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.
Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
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Cross References
Romans 2:17
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
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Cross References
1 Peter 3:4
But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart...
Deuteronomy 30:6
And the Lord your God will circumcise your hear...
Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord ; remove the ...
Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart...
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the...
Colossians 2:11
In him also you were circumcised with a circumc...
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
1 Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.