A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 15 Chapter 2:17 – 24

1. Verse 17 “Romans 2:17 “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,”
1. Paul turns his focus to the Jews for the next several verses. Remember He was a Jew Jesus was also a Jew, these were and are not bad people but still needed salvation just as we all did.

a. The main focus here is still on verse 12 “Romans 2:12 “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” Paul speaking about judgment but lets not confuse things, while the Jews may very well be judged within the law the law is no salvation for them. The law also condemns them just as it does us, they still need Jesus Christ to save them.

b. John Gill says “the apostle's view in the whole, is to show that they could not be justified before God by their obedience to the law of Moses: "behold"; take notice, observe it, this will be granted: "thou art called a Jew"; thou art one by name, by nation, and by religion; but no name, nor outward religion, nor a mere profession, will justify before God:”

2. “and restest in the law” The word “restest” means - to settle on or to rest in or to rest upon. This word implies the strongest confidence of safety and security. Your whole peace in salvation is your trust and confidence in this law.

a. These folks truly knew the law, worked the law, put every ounce of trust in their salvation was by this knowledge and work of the law.

b. But what they failed to do is to follow the scriptures about the only One who could and did truly fulfill the law, Jesus Christ.

c. These Jews had more faith in their knowledge of the law and their fulfilling of the law than Gentiles who attempt to work their way to heaven today.

3. “and makest thy boast of God,”

a. Boasting here means – glory these Jews counted on the fact that they were God’s chosen Nation and that the law of God was given to them, no others in the world mattered just them. They studied and knew God’s law and love to boast in it, however they did not know enough to recognize the Son of God when He was born.

b. God said Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24.)But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” – Glory in the Lord and Him alone, He is salvation not your law.

c. People of today who believe in works for salvation has nothing on these Jew when it comes to boasting.

2. Paul continues in Verse 18 “And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;”
1. John Gill said “Not the secret will or purpose of God; nor his revealed will in the Gospel, for of this they were ignorant; but his declared will in the law, showing what is to be done, and what is not to be done: to know which in express terms was a privilege, that other people had not; but then the bare knowledge of this will be of no avail: for persons may know their Lord's will, as the Jews did, and not do it.

a. They knew God’s will as instructed by the law but that is about it.

b. As far as the Gospel their ignorance ran real deep and still does even today.

c. Life Application Bible Commentary says “Paul is saying that God's Word is not only a record of God's will; it is also a guideline to determine what course of action is best for us. Through God's Word we can be trained or instructed in how to appreciate what is good. Yet how often do we, surrounded by a wealth of spiritual resources, live no differently than our pagan neighbors! We need to put our knowledge into action.”

d. These folks could no longer live the law of God than we can; they were and are just as depraved as we are. Works is useless without faith and also useless unless done by faith.

2. “and approvest the things that are more excellent,” Shows their approval of God’s divine law those are the things more excellent, but they still did not do them. Even though they were instructed in them from birth.
3. What about the law of the gospel? Paul said in Philippians 1:10 “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” - The excellent things of the Gospel, they had no discerning, knowledge and favorable opinion.
2. Verse 19 “And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,”
1. “And art confident that thou thyself” – they were very puffed up and fully persuaded in their fleshly minds about their knowledge and love for the law.
2. “thou thyself art a guide of the blind” – this is what we today call the blind leading the blind, or the ones biblical ignorant leading the biblical ignorant. What did the Jews know about salvation?
3. Paul keeps their feet to the fire. Verses 20-24 “An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. (21.) Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (22.) Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? (23.) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (24.) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”
4. There were some light among the Jews, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, the Apostles, and etc however mostly they were as ignorant about Christ and the gospel then as they are today.