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God’s Righteous Judgment
1Therefore you have #ch. 1:20 no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For #2 Sam. 12:5-7; [John 8:7]; See Matt. 7:2in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3Do 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? 4Or do you presume on #ch. 9:23; 10:12 the riches of his kindness and #ch. 3:25 forbearance and #ch. 9:22; [Ex. 34:6] patience, #Isa. 30:18; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15; Rev. 2:21not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are #[Deut. 32:34]; See James 5:3 storing up #Ps. 110:5wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 # Job 34:11; Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; See Matt. 16:27 He will render to each one according to his works: 7to those who #See Luke 8:15by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8but for those who are self-seeking#2:8 Or contentious and #2 Thess. 2:12do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be tribulation and distress #Ezek. 18:20 for every human being who does evil, the Jew #See 1 Pet. 4:17first and also the Greek, 10but glory and honor and #Isa. 57:19 peace for everyone who does good, #See ch. 1:16the Jew first and also the Greek. 11For #See Acts 10:34God shows no partiality.
God’s Judgment and the Law
12For all who have sinned #1 Cor. 9:21without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For #See James 1:22, 23it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, #See ch. 1:19by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is #Jer. 31:33written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16#[ch. 3:6; 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5]; See Acts 10:42; 17:31 on that day when, #ch. 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8; [Gal. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:11] according to my gospel, God judges #Eccles. 12:14 the secrets of men #ch. 16:25; [1 Tim. 1:11; 2 Tim. 2:8]by Christ Jesus.
17But if you call yourself a Jew and #ver. 23; Mic. 3:11; [ch. 9:4; John 5:45]rely on the law and boast in God 18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19and if you are sure that you yourself are #[Job 29:15; Matt. 15:14; 23:16; John 9:39-41]a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law #2 Tim. 3:5; [Gal. 4:19; 2 Tim. 1:13] the embodiment of #Luke 11:52knowledge and truth— 21#Matt. 23:3-28; [Ps. 50:16-21; Matt. 15:1-9]you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you #Acts 19:37; [Mal. 3:8]rob temples? 23You who #See ver. 17; ch. 3:27 boast in the law #[Mal. 1:6]dishonor God by breaking the law. 24For, #Cited from Isa. 52:5 as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed #[2 Sam. 12:14; Ezek. 36:20, 23; 2 Pet. 2:2]among the Gentiles because of you.”
25For circumcision indeed is of value #Gal. 5:3if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So, if #Eph. 2:11; [ch. 3:30] a man who is uncircumcised keeps #ch. 1:32; 8:4the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded#2:26 Or counted as circumcision? 27Then he who is physically#2:27 Or is by nature uncircumcised but keeps the law #See Matt. 12:41 will condemn you who have #ver. 29; ch. 7:6; 2 Cor. 3:6the written code#2:27 Or the letter and circumcision but break the law. 28For #ch. 9:6-8; [Gal. 6:15] no one is a Jew #[ver. 17]who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29But a Jew is one #See 1 Pet. 3:4 inwardly, and #[Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Acts 7:51; Phil. 3:3; Col. 2:11] circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. #2 Cor. 10:18; 1 Thess. 2:4; [Gal. 1:10]His praise is not from man but from God.
