But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
In the previous section Paul's argument was primarily to Gentiles. Now Paul is turning his attention to the elect nation of God, Israel. Paul is showing us that no person is exempt from the charge that is to come in Romans 3:23.
Previously we saw that a Gentile's ability to obey the law shows that the law is written on his heart. Now we are seeing the inverse; a Jew's lack of ability to keep the law shows that the law being given to them has not made them perfect. Rather, the law is like a teacher, as Paul says, we are "instructed from the law" it shows us that we are guilty before God of breaking His law.
Paul then makes an interesting statement. He talks about people who are sure that they are, amongst other things, "a guide to the blind." He is showing the Jewish people the hypocrisy of thinking that because they posses the law they are themselves an example of godly living. The law only reveals their sin and hypocrisy. Paul quotes Isaiah and Ezekiel in verse 2:24 to show the Jew just how serious this hypocrisy is, it enables the blasphemy of God.
Since the argument began in verse 1:18 Paul has not presented the remedy to this problem. He is giving the diagnoses of the terminal disease that plagues mankind. Simply stated, Paul is arguing that EVERYONE is guilty whether Jew, Gentile, unreached people groups, or Bible Belt Southern Baptists. ALL are guilty of sin before God.
The application of this passage does not avoid us just because it is talking about the Jewish people. Many Christians today tend to think that because a person has grown up in church, been baptized, hasn't done anything really bad (in their eyes) God will forgive them of their sins. But we saw last week that the good things we do are only good enough to bring further judgment on the bad things we do. We need a Savior.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
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