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- Preaching
the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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A FALSE CONFIDENCE (Rom 2:17-24) 2/25/07 Pastor I.
A FALSE CONFIDENCE IN HERITAGE (17) A. The Context 1.
In 2.
Paul will now
explain (2:17-24) that the Jews had a false confidence in their heritage and
knowledge of the Law, but not in Christ. A false confidence leads not only to
hypocritical living but to God's judgment. B. The Jewish Name 1.
First, Paul argues that many of the Jews had a false confidence in
their heritage. He begins with a series of conditional clauses (“if” eí) and mentions the name that
expresses heritage for God’s covenantal people, “Jew.” 2.
The name “Jew” (Ioudai/os)
was first derived from Judah (Heb -
Yehudah; Grk - Iouda) in the 3. By the first
century, "Jew" was the most common name for the ancestors of
Abraham through Isaac (Mt 2:2; Acts 2:5; Rom 1:16). C. The Jewish Heritage 1.
In Rom 9:4-5, Paul gives us an explanation of what is the heritage of
the Jews. 2.
They are “Israelites,” named after Jacob (“ 3.
“Adoption of sons” belongs to them in the sense that God called their
nation to be his people (Exo 4:22; Isa 46:3). 4.
They were privileged with the Shekinah “glory” of God that
accompanied them in the wilderness (Exo 16:10) and that filled their
tabernacle (Exo 40:34-35). 5.
God gave covenants to the patriarchs (“fathers”) and his people
(Abrahamic – Gen 12:1-3; Mosaic – Ex 20ff; Davidic – 2Sa 7:8-16; New Covenant
– Jer 31:31-34), which some have yet to be fulfilled in the future (Rom
11:11-12). There was even a Priestly Covenant (Num 25:10-13) to which God
promised his people would be a perpetual priesthood with their “temple
service” (latreía cp. Rom
12:1). 6.
God also gave his people “promises” pointing to the coming Messiah
(Acts 2:39; Acts 13:32–33; 26:6; Gal 3:16). 7.
Paul continues in vs. 17 that God’s covenantal people relied upon (epanapaúō – rest or depend
on) the Law, however, that reliance rested not so much on the coming Messiah
as it did on their knowledge of the Law (cp. Rom 2:23). 8.
They boasted because they were the only people who had a national
relationship with God who gave them his commandments. 9.
Their heritage was a tremendous privilege to have. However, that
heritage was given because of God’s grace, not their righteousness. Because
many did not see their sin and embrace Christ, they had a false confidence in
their heritage. II. A FALSE CONFIDENCE IN
KNOWLEDGE (18-23) A. Knowledge of God’s Will
(18) 1.
Because the Jews had God’s Law (Deu 4:7-8; Ps 147:19-20), they also
had his will (thelêma – will or
desire cp. Rom 12:2) for the word of God is the will of God (Deu 4:5-6; Ps
40:8). 2.
Because they know his Law, they are able to approve (dokimazō – test or assess cp. Rom
12:2) the things that are essential (diapherō
– best or superior). B. Knowledge of God’s Counsel
(19) 1.
Because the Jews had God’s Law, they considered themselves guides to
the spiritually blind. 2.
They had the light and they were to let that light shine where there
was spiritual darkness. 3.
In essence, C. Knowledge of God’s
Instruction (20) 1.
Because the Jews had the instruction of God’s Law, they viewed
themselves as “correctors” (paideutếs
- disciplinarians, instructors) of those whose minds were not instructed (áphron - i.e. foolish). 2.
They were teachers (didáskaloi)
who could instruct spiritual infants (nếpios
– fig. simple-minded or immature). 3.
Indeed, God’s Word gives wisdom and understanding (Ps 119:98-100) and
it is the embodiment of truth (Ps 119:43, 142, 160; Jn 17:17). However true
wisdom (Heb - chokmah) is the skill
to live obediently before a righteous God (Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7; Jam 3:13). D. Knowledge Without
Obedience (21-23) 1.
The problem was that many of the Jews had knowledge, but they had
knowledge without obedience. 2.
Paul now switches to a series of rhetorical questions, which were
intended to cause not only introspection but obvious answers as well. 3.
To the one who is claiming to be a teacher, he emphatically asks the
question, “Are you teaching yourself?” To the one who is preaching not to
steal, “Are you stealing?” 4.
To the one who is saying not to commit adultery, “Are you committing
adultery?” To the one who is abhorring idols, “Are you robbing temples?” This
may refer to embezzling funds from the temple for personal use (ex. Mk 7:11)
or it may refer to selling idols for a profit (Act 19:37). 5.
To the one who is boasting in the Law, “Are you dishonoring God by
breaking the Law?” 6.
The obvious answer is that they were practicing the very prohibitions
they were preaching. Jesus brought the Jews’ hypocrisy in Mt 23:13-15, 23,
25, 27, 28, 29). III. A FALSE CONFIDENCE AND ITS
CONSEQUENCE (24) A. Paul concludes his
argument by quoting Isa 52:5 in the LXX. The context in Isa 52:5 portrays
God’s name blasphemed due in part to B. Here in Rom 2:17-24, God’s
name was blasphemed because many Jews were living in a dishonorable manner.
Sin was what brought about C. Blaspheme (blaspheméō) means to
slander or speak profanely of that which is sacred. The sin of God’s people
always brings about blaspheme and dishonor his sacred name. IV. CONCLUSION A. Having a false confidence
in heritage, knowledge, or anything other than Christ, will lead to a
hypocritical life; blaspheme against God’s name, and the inescapable judgment
of God (cf. Rom 2:3). B. Unbelievers have a false confidence
in anything but Christ (Christian upbringing, Christian church, a false sense
of security, a false sense of spirituality), but it will inevitably end up in
hypocrisy and inescapable judgment. C. Believers have the
complete canon and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, therefore it is
contemptible when we bring disgrace upon God’s name when we sin, have a bad
testimony, and live in hypocrisy. |
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