Matthew Henry Commentary Romans 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Romans 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Romans 2
"Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things. And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things. And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified: (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ." — Romans 2:1-16 (ASV)
The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act in this way, of every nation, age, and kind, must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their real character. The case is so plain that we may appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every willful sin, there is contempt of the goodness of God.
And though the branches of man's disobedience are very various, all spring from the same root. But in true repentance, there must be hatred of former sinfulness, from a change worked in the state of the mind, which disposes it to choose the good and to refuse the evil. It also shows a sense of inward wretchedness. Such is the great change worked in repentance: it is conversion and is needed by every human being.
The ruin of sinners is their following a hard and impenitent heart. Their sinful deeds are expressed by the strong words, “treasuring up wrath.” In the description of the just man, notice the full demand of the law. It demands that the motives must be pure and rejects all actions from earthly ambition or purposes. In the description of the unrighteous, contention is presented as the principle of all evil.
The human will is in a state of enmity against God. Even Gentiles, who did not have the written law, had something within them that directed them what to do by the light of nature. Conscience is a witness, and sooner or later will bear witness.
As they kept or broke these natural laws and dictates, their consciences either acquitted or condemned them. Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more comfort to saints, than that Christ will be the Judge. Secret services will be rewarded. Secret sins will then be punished and brought to light.
"But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth; thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written." — Romans 2:17-24 (ASV)
The apostle addresses the Jews and reveals what sins they were guilty of, despite their profession and empty claims.
A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vainglorious boasting in God and in the outward profession of His name is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride.
A great evil of the sins of professing believers is the dishonor done to God and religion when they do not live according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbors who rely on a dead form of godliness; yet they themselves trust in a form of knowledge equally devoid of life and power, while some who glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonor God and cause His name to be blasphemed.
"For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." — Romans 2:25-29 (ASV)
No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking to partake of the righteousness of God by faith.
For he is no more a Christian now than he was truly a Jew of old who is so only outwardly; neither is that true baptism which is merely outward in the flesh; but he is the real Christian who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith.
True baptism is that of the heart, through the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost, bringing about a spiritual frame of mind and a willing adherence to truth in its holy ways.
Let us pray that we may be made real Christians: not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost. And let our praise be not from men, but from God.
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