Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 10:2

"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." — Romans 10:2 (ASV)

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Always make allowance for anything that is good in those who are not yet converted. We must not be unjust with them because we desire to be faithful to them.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

It is not sufficient for a man to be sincere in his zeal for God; sincerity must be according to knowledge if it is to be of any value.

If a man travels to the North, his sincere belief that he is on the right road will not bring him to his destination in the South.

If a man, in all sincerity, drinks poison believing it is a refreshing drink, it will kill him, despite his sincerity; and if a man sincerely believes a lie, it will turn out to be a lie, despite his sincerity.

So, it is not enough to be sincerely zealous for God, or sincerely anxious to be saved; but you must seek salvation in God's revealed way if your search is to be a successful one.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

In Paul's day, they were most diligent in the observance of every form of outward devotion, and many of them sincerely desired to be right with God; but they did not know how to attain the desired end.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Zeal is a good thing, but, like the horse without a bit, it becomes useless and even dangerous. Knowledge is the bridle in the mouth of zeal. Zeal is like fire, which may burn the house it was intended to warm unless it is carefully governed. There must be knowledge in zeal.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

We should always give people credit for every good thing that there is in them: it will often enable us all the better to point out other matters in which they are deficient. So Paul put it on record, concerning the Jews of his time, that they had a zeal for God, though it was not a zeal according to knowledge.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

The Jews of Paul's day were zealous, but they were zealous in ignorance. And that is just what we may say, at the present time, concerning a large number of our fellow-countrymen – those who are ordinarily called Ritualists. They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. None can be more zealous than they are, but a grave error is at the root of their whole system, a fatal ignorance concerning the truth of the gospel.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Always see all the good that is to be seen; and, when you have to reprove and rebuke, begin by admitting what is good: They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.