Lesson 5
R
omans 2: 1-11, God’s wrath against the religious and self-righteous.
Romans 1:18-31 is God’s indictment on the ungodly, immoral, and unrighteous Gentiles. Romans 2:1-11 is God’s indictment on the self-righteous, religious, and hypocritical Jewish leaders, the scribes and Pharisees.
VV 1-3, 1 Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Turning to the scribes and Pharisees, Paul said, by judging people of the first group, they were condemning themselves because they practiced the same things. They had no right to judge others because they themselves were under God’s judgement.
John 8:7, So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
V 4, Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Greek for long-suffering is “makrothumia” which means patience. Greek word for forbearance is “anoche” which means to delay. The scribes and Pharisees despise the grace, goodness, and patience of God in delaying and withholding judgment.
VV 5-11, 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”, 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
God will judge them for their unrepentant attitude and hardness of heart. God will reward everyone according to their deeds, glory, honour, and peace with eternal life for those who seek after God’s glory. God will judge those who are self seeking, evil, and unrighteous, with punishment and eternal death. The gospel is for the Jews first and after that the Gentiles.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we acknowledged that we are sinners in need of salvation. We pray that those who do not know You as their Lord and Saviour will repent and come back to You. We pray that You will give us soft, sensitive, repentant, and obedient hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.