Blasphemed Among the Gentiles Through You

2014-04-12

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:21-24)

Previously we saw how the Jews of the first century believed they were spiritually complete, acceptable before God and even teachers of the word because of their relationship to the law. Now Paul uses a series of rhetorical questions to show contemporary Jewish folks how they are also guilty before God.

They consider themselves teachers, but Paul asks, “teachest thou not thyself?” He uses stealing, adultery and idol worship for examples. Maybe we are not Jewish, but we too have the oracles of God, yet we too point the finger at others who seem not to follow God’s laws. A pastor of a famous church a few years ago was arrested for a relationship with a minor. He was a married man, and pounded the pulpit week after week about sin, and what happened? His hypocrisy was revealed. This stuff could happen to us. We could steal, commit adultery, and worship idols. We as humankind, whether Jewish or not, religious or not, whoever we may be... Romans 1:28 would be our end.

Lastly, we read of the Jews, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” This is a reference to Ezekiel 36:20-22 and Isaiah 52:5. The heathen see God in His people. Consider the example above of the pastor and of behavior of Christians in general. The world sees the hypocrisy of Christians and wants nothing to do with God. This was the case for the Jews during the Diaspora and into the first century. It is the case of many churches today that are not Jewish.

Likewise, the religion of Judaism today does not resemble anything we see in the Bible. It started in Jesus’ day, when the scribes’ and Pharisees’ tradition of the elders superseded God’s commandments (Matthew 15:1-9). The teachings of the Kabballah, the Talmud, and the Mishnah do the same thing today as the first century traditions did.

We are quickly seeing that we are all on the same playing field, guilty before God, and in need of a Savior.