In The Word
Read: Romans 2:17-29
The Jews under the Law
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Back in the mid-1980’s, a television commercial for cough syrup showed an actor saying, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” Though the actor had no medical expertise, the company hoped his popular television role as a doctor would be enough to influence people to buy its product. In Paul’s day, the Greek word for hypocrite referred to someone who was acting or pretending to be someone else. Paul reprimanded the Jews for being hypocrites; the Jews criticized Gentiles for not having God’s law to follow, but they themselves did not wholly follow God’s commands. The Jews were supposed to be an example to the Gentiles of godly behavior, but their hypocritical conduct led Paul to write, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24).
Paul’s point is relevant to us as well: if we say we are followers of God, then we should follow all of God’s commands in private and in public. How sad it is when someone claims to be a Christian yet acts in ways that dishonor God and misrepresent His teachings.
Your behavior in front of others matters, and you can either draw them to God or push them away from Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit, examine your life honestly using the Word of God as a mirror. Is there any behavior that does not line up with the whole of Scripture? Get it straight and don’t be a hypocrite!