Romans 2:1-11 starts with an invitation to self-examination. Rather than just pointing fingers, it is a call to introspection. Have you ever been quick to judge someone else’s sin while conveniently overlooking your own? Paul exposes this hypocrisy, and it is a call for every reader — then and now — to take a long hard look in the mirror. You know, not just the one where you get your angles right, but the one that exposes the creases, the flaws, and the imperfections.
As the mirror shifts and we begin to see our own blemishes, Paul reminds us of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience. It is not to shroud us in guilt or lead us to despair, but rather to point us toward repentance. The kindness of God is the balm for our missteps, guiding us back to His embrace. The righteousness of God is available to everyone. It is available to the Jew and to the Gentile. But this is not a game of cultural identity, this is a game of personal faith and recognition of who God is, and then responding appropriately.
The fact that God does not show favoritism should both comfort and challenge us. It is comforting because it means that every person, regardless of background, has access to God’s saving grace. But it is also challenging because it means that no one gets a free pass based on heritage or religious tradition. Romans 2:6 hits hard. God will “render to each person according to his deeds.” This is not a works-based salvation message, but rather a call to genuine faith that is evident in our actions. Our deeds will be evidence of the state of our hearts.
Do Not Judge Others as It Comes With the High Cost of Ignoring Your Own Sin
It is a challenging notion but it is necessary: Resist the urge to judge others. You see, judgment carries a heavy price: the danger of overlooking our personal transgressions. And to drive this point home, Paul employs a diatribe — a rhetorical dialogue with an imagined opponent. Picture it: he is addressing an imagined devout Jew sitting amidst the Roman church audience, a person who mistakenly believes their mere Jewish identity renders them righteous before God.
This is not merely a lesson for ancient Jews. This lesson is relevant to each of us. This self-righteous individual Paul envisions? He is nodding in agreement with Paul’s words when in reality, he should be lamenting his own sins. He saw Gentiles as inferior, judging them solely because they were not Jewish or circumcised. Some Jews even regarded Gentiles as less than human. But Paul disrupts this hierarchy spectacularly. He puts everyone — Jew, Gentile, or any other group — on an equal pedestal. For Paul, you are either in Christ or you are not.
That is his argument up until chapter 3. All who stand outside of Christ, irrespective of their background, are guilty. As Paul keenly observes, judgment often becomes a mirror of self-incrimination. Your misdeeds might differ from mine, but that does not render them any less sinful. So while a Jew might nod in agreement with Paul’s count of sins in Romans 1, condemning Gentiles, they neglect their own sins. It is akin to condemning someone for one sin while conveniently overlooking three of their own.
Paul seems to have borrowed from Jesus’ teachings. Reflect upon Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, where He warns against judgment, highlighting the absurdity of ignoring our glaring faults while nitpicking others’. Jesus paints a picture of someone with a log in their eye attempting to remove a speck from another’s. Before you critique someone else’s sins, first address your own.
Delving into Romans 2:3, we encounter a question: If you condemn others for their sins while committing the same, do you genuinely believe you are exempt from God’s judgment? The sobering response? A resounding no. When faced with these truths, we can find solace in daily introspection and prayer. Ask God to steer your focus from others and shine a light on your own sins. This is not a plea of the self-righteous or the complacent believer; it is a heartfelt cry for self-awareness and humility.
A Judgemental Attitude Reflects a Contempt for God’s Mercy… Humble Your Heart, Show Gratitude, and Repent
We often wear judgment as a coat of armor, not realizing it acts as chains, weighing us down. When we wear this armor, it is as if we are brushing off the vast ocean of God’s mercy, taking His boundless patience for granted. Let’s work to cast away this armor, bow in humility, and embrace gratitude for His gifts.
Romans 2:4 (NLT) says, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Our every breath, our very existence, is a testament to God’s mercy. Every day that we wake up, despite our imperfections, is a testament to His boundless patience.
But in our moments of judgment, we cast a shadow over His benevolence. When we point fingers, we are clouding our understanding of God’s incredible mercy towards us. The mercy of our Lord is not something to be conveniently forgotten. Rather, it is a guiding light, nudging us towards understanding and introspection, pulling us away from the precipice of judgment. If you truly know God, you reflect God. When you truly understand His mercy, you extend that same mercy to others. When you truly grasp His patience, you mirror it to those around you.
For those who have not embraced the faith, understand this: When you judge others, ignoring your own flaws, it is like a dam holding back a mighty river. This dam, symbolic of God’s mercy, holds back a surging river of judgment. But remember, this dam will not hold forever. One day, it might give way, letting the torrents of judgment rush over you. Yet, Jesus. He drank from this river, each drop of God’s wrath, so you would not have to. By repenting and embracing Him, you can cross this once fearsome river, finding peace and reconciliation on the other side.
To my fellow believers, let this resonate deeply within you: It is by God’s grace, His mercy, His patience, that you have found the path to repentance. These words are the bedrock of your faith. Let them seep into your soul, let them elevate your worship, and let them manifest in your actions towards others. Judgment is an ever-present pitfall. So, let gratitude guide you, and let your actions mirror the teachings of our Lord.
God Does Not Play Favorites and Neither Should We
God does not play favorites. Neither should we. The text makes it abundantly clear. Everyone will face judgment based on their deeds. The scripture details it further in verses 6-9. For those selfishly ambitious, regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile — because let’s remember, God remains impartial — they will encounter wrath and fury.
The term ‘selfishly ambitious’ stood out to me. Within our Christian community, sometimes we misconstrue ambition as sinful. Ambition is not inherently bad. The problem arises when the motive becomes self-centered. God does not despise visionaries; he births them. Paul was such a visionary. His ambitions were not for personal recognition but for Christ’s glory. Paul goes on to stress the impartiality of God. Whether judgment or blessing, God does not differentiate based on your ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or skin color.
Reflecting on the blessings promised to those in Christ, verse seven speaks of receiving “glory and honor and immortality.” But some might pause and wonder: Is salvation merit-based? Can we earn it through our deeds? Absolutely not. This is the fruit-to-root concept Paul has been conveying. No deed can earn salvation. When we bear good fruit, it signals the presence of a good tree rooted in faith in Christ Jesus. These blessings would have deeply resonated with the Roman Christians. The promises of shared glory with Christ, everlasting peace, and honor — it is unparalleled!
Let’s make sure we read this passage with introspection: While God views everyone equally, do we? Or are we guilty of classifying people based on their ethnic heritage, skin color, socioeconomic status, or past sins? Such classifications and judgments lack justification, especially before God. The only difference between one sinner and another is our standing before God in Christ. A standing none of us earned. We all stand on equal footing at the cross.
And to my fellow believers, I implore you to reflect on your testimonies. Do you find yourself measuring the worth of your testimony against another’s? Remember, before God, we were all equally dead in our sins. Our salvation was equally impossible. In our times, political divisions and moral standings often become divisive parameters. But the scripture gives only two classifications: lost or saved. Either you are in Adam or in Christ. Unity can only be achieved if centered around Jesus.
Remember Romans 10:13? It does not segregate. Everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved. So, if God, in all His majesty, does not play favorites, who are we to do so? Let’s always remind ourselves — we are but beggars pointing another to where we found sustenance. Let’s be carriers of the Gospel, united in the name of Jesus, seeing the world through His loving eyes, and preaching His message without favoritism.
