Romans 2:21b-23 - The Jews Failure to Keep the Law

Romans 2:21b-23 21b You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

Message: The Jews Failure to Keep the Law

Time:  Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).

What the Lord is Saying:

The Jews were exposed in verse 17-20 for looking and sounding religious, but lacking an authentic faith. 3 Commandments are listed here: (1) Being a thief; (2) Being an adulterer; (3) Being an idolater. And then a summary statement of verse 23 in which the Jews overall stated that they boast in the greatness of the Law and yet break it.

In college we used a phrase often, "Walk = Talk." Paul's complaint toward the Jew is their creed contradicts their conduct. I need to continually ask myself, "Is my Christianity authentic? Does it pass the test?"

In verse 21b, the Greek word for steal is klepto. It is where we get the word kleptomaniac. Paul here uses three sins as examples of the Law that the Jews broke. He didn't just pull these sins out of his hat, but they were sins that the Jewish people had experience committing. Yet, this really isn't a shock because these are commandments that everyone breaks in thought and/or deed.

Interesting the phrase, "You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" Why the second part? What does robbing temples have to do with abhorring idols? I think an idol is anything in our life that we place at a higher level than God. The Jews stated they hated idols, and yet, in practice did they tithe correctly, thus robbing God. Do I give God everything or what I can afford?

Can anyone keep the commandments? No. But, the Jews stated that trusting in Christ was not necessary and so therefore, they must keep the commandments completely to earn God's acceptance. This is the problem. If a person does not trust in the finished work of Christ and what He did on the cross. Justification by law-keeping is possible only if one never fails in obedience to the Lord. 

Promise: For those that reject Christ, their standard is complete adherence to the Law of Moses (or the law given them through their conscience).