Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 2:22

"thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?" — Romans 2:22 (ASV)

Do you commit adultery? There is no doubt that this was a crime very common among the Jews (John 8:1–11). The Jewish Talmud accuses some of the most celebrated of their rabbis, by name, of this vice. Grotius. Josephus also gives the same account of the nation.

You who abhor idols. It was one of the doctrines of their religion to abhor idolatry. This they were everywhere taught in the Old Testament, and this they doubtless inculcated in their teaching. It was impossible that they could recommend idolatry.

Do you commit sacrilege? Sacrilege is the crime of violating or profaning sacred things, or of appropriating to common purposes what has been devoted to the service of religion.

In this question, the apostle shows remarkable tact and skill. He could not accuse them of idolatry, because the Jews, after the Babylonian captivity, had never fallen into it. However, though they did not have the form, they might have had the spirit of idolatry.

That spirit consisted in withholding from the true God what was his due and bestowing their affections on something else. The Jews did this by perverting from their proper use the offerings which were designed for his honour; by withholding what he demanded of tithes and offerings; and by devoting to other uses what was devoted to him and properly belonged to his service. That this was a common crime among them is apparent from Malachi 1:8, 12-14; Malachi 3:8–9.

It is also evident from the New Testament that the temple was, in many ways, desecrated and profaned in the time of our Saviour (see Matthew 21:12, 13).