Romans 2:23–24: You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
The Jewish people had a religion of outward action, not inward attitude. They may have been moral on the outside, but what about the heart? Our Lord’s indictment of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 illustrates the principle perfectly. God not only sees the deeds but He also sees the “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). It is possible for a Jew to be guilty of theft, adultery, and idolatry (Rom. 2:21–22) even if no one saw him commit these sins outwardly. 1
Though they knew the will of God expressed in the law, they had not kept the law. One’s heritage does not make one a true Jew with right standing before God. Rather, true Jews are only those who have received the regenerating work of the Spirit in their hearts. 2
Application
- How often do you boast about the goodness of God in your life to someone else?
- Has your testimony ever been tainted by your selfish choices? How did the grace of God help you to take responsibility?
Prayer
Lord, please help me to talk more confidently to others about your faithfulness.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2. Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. . (1992). Holman Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
