Romans 2:1-11 (ESVST)
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
As you can see, the verse above starts with therefore. This is because it is a continuation of what Paul discussed in verses 18-32. Paul was discussing how the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who suppress the truth through their unrighteousness. Paul indicated that this wrath was revealed because although people knew God, they rejected him and failed to give him glory and thanks and instead worshiped idols. Paul indicated that as a result of this, God abandoned them to the lusts of their hearts and to their worthless minds. The abandonment led to some people becoming homosexuals:
Romans 1:26-27 (ESVST)
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
and others also did the following things:
Romans 1:29-31 (ESVST)
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
All these things were as a result of God’s wrath falling upon those that knowingly rejected God. All this wrath that Paul is talking about in verses 18-32 is against Gentiles or non Jews.
Paul then turns to the Jews in verse 2:1 above and say, you Jews also do not have an excuse. You Jews judge others because of the things that they do (referring to the evil things I listed above that Gentiles do) but you also do exactly the same things. If you Jews pass judgement on the Gentiles for doing these things, you are also passing judgement on yourself, since you are doing the same thing.
Although Paul is addressing the Jews in this context, this also equally applies to us. We who judge should not be hypocrites. You cannot judge others while you are also doing the same thing. Take a log out of your eye before you can take a splinter out of another’s eye.
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
Paul here contradicts the Jews’s hypocritical and unrighteous judgement with God’s righteous judgement. Paul says here that God’s judgement is just and we (referring to himself and the Jews) know that. How do the know that? Paul has just explained in verses 18-32 how people have knowingly rejected God and chose to worship idols. So, they know based on this that God’s judgement is just. This is contrary to the Jews’s judgement which is hypocritical and unrighteous since they themselves do the very things they are passing judgement on.
3 Do you suppose, O man — you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself— that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God ‘s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Paul,continues to say to the Jews that, they should not think that because they pass judgement on Gentiles, they will escape God’s judgement. Paul continues to tell them that they must not take God’s kindness, tolerance and patience for granted. They should not continue to sin and then rely on God’s kindness, tolerance and patience. They must realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead them to repentance. In other words, they should not go on sinning and say but I know that God is kind, he will forgive me. They must instead regret their sins and while God’s kindness abounds, they must repent.
Although Paul is addressing the Jews in this context, this also equally applies to us as well. Let us all not take God’s kindness, tolerance and patience for granted and instead repent while we still can.
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’ s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Paul continues to say to the Jews and this is also applicable to you and me that, because of our stubborn and unrepenting hearts, we are storing up wrath for ourselves on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed. If we continue to sin without and end in sight, if we will not repent even though we know that it is wrong and we know that it is against God’s will, we are simply storing wrath for ourselves. As Paul stated in verse 32, not only are we sinning but we give approval to others to sin.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:7 to those who by patience in well- doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Now Paul explains the judgement itself. Paul says God will render or reward each person according to his works. Those who patiently continue to do good so that they can be glorified and honored and made immortal or incorruptible by God, God will give them even better, he will give them eternal life. These are the people who by their good works seek glory from God and not from people.
8 but for those who are self- seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Paul then says then that as for those who instead are self seeking or who live for themselves, disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness or wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. Both these words mean anger as well. There will be double anger from God for them.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
All those that continue to do evil, there will be tribulations and distress and all those that continue to do good, there will be glory, honor and peace. On which side do you want to be? Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, it does not matter. Each person will be judged according to his works why, because God is a fair and just God.
I tell you now my brother or sister if you do not repent right now and instead choose to continue to disobey the truth, disobey God, worship other things, deny the existence of the true God, deny Jesus, continue to be engaged in immoral and/or unnatural sex acts, continue to be filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, a gossiper, slanderer, hater of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventor of evil, disobedient to your parents, foolish, faithless, heartless and ruthless then, you are only storing up wrath for yourself and on the day of judgement, there will be tribulations and distress for you. No one will escape God’s judgement. It is coming and it will happen.
If you are reading this and you have been rejecting God, it is not too late to repent. Say this prayer and believe in your heart, and wherever you are, you will be saved.
“O God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. I am sorry for my sins. I am willing to turn from my sins. I openly receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Savior. I confess him as Lord. From this moment on I want to live for him and serve him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
May God bless you, strengthen you and give you wisdom as you begin your new life in the spirit. In Jesus name, Amen. Please don’t hesitate to call me anytime for further spiritual guidance on 0833048732.