January 18 Click on verses for Full Scripture	previous - - - - - - - - - - next
Today's Pathway: Romans 2:1-2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

In the previous chapter Paul deals with the wickedness of those who have rejected God and are now living vile lives. In this passage he deals with the hypocrites. These would probably be religious Jews, although it could also apply to religious Gentiles as well. These folks were probably not living a lifestyle that was visibly reprobate, and thus they considered themselves to be "better" than those around them. The Jews in particular looked down on the Gentiles, and considered them to be sinful "dogs". These "respectable" people were very quick to judge others, but they did not take the time to focus on their own shortcomings.

Paul calls them "inexcusable". It is interesting to note that this is the same expression that Paul used to describe those who knew about God yet rejected Him in Romans 1:20. These hypocrites would never have put themselves in the same category as the sinners in chapter 1. Yet God inspired Paul to use the same word to describe them: inexcusable. The reason that these men were without excuse is that, while the men in Romans 1 knew about God but chose to ignore Him, these men knew right from wrong (because they were able to point out the iniquities of others), but didn't apply those standards in their own lives. In fact, in some cases they were practicing the same sinful activities. Undoubtedly they were committing some of the sins listed in Romans 1:29-31, because emotions like pride, envy, and covetousness are pretty much universal sins. One man put it this way: "The hypocrite is indignant at other men's sins, but indulgent of his own".

Paul adds that by condemning the actions of others they were actually condemning themselves. If it is wrong for the Gentile to do it, then it is wrong for the Jew. If it is sin for the atheist to do it, then it is sin for the church member to do it. Jesus said in Matthew 7:2,

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again".

The question for each of us is this: do we condemn in others that which we do ourselves?

Pastor Mark J Montgomery