Matthew Henry Commentary Romans 2:17-24

"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.