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.”
Here, in this passage, Paul lists five special privileges (one scholar refers to them as strengths) enjoyed by the Jewish people:
They are Jews, possess the law, and have a special relationship with God, thus giving them a special status amongst the nations.*
They relied, or rested upon the law.*
They brag about their relationship to God, which is not a bad thing as seen in Scripture (Psalm 40:8; 143:10; Hebrews 10:7, 9).*
They know God’s will.*
They approve of what is superior.* Meaning, they approve of things that are excellent.
All of these privileges can be seen as strengths, but Paul is quick to point out that the Jewish people rely upon them too much. They relied on their possession of the law more than their need for it, feeling justified before God because they held the law.* Because of this, they erroneously felt that they would not receive judgement.* They bragged about their relationship with God, but did so without the humility that focuses on knowing God rather than holding a status.* They wrongly relied on what they saw as superior knowledge to make them right with God.* They looked down on the Gentiles because they felt that they were better than the Gentiles.*
Paul then offers 4 ways that the Jews view their own interactions with Gentiles:
They are a guide for the blind.*
They are a light for those in the dark.*
They are instructors for the foolish (people who disregard God and go their own way).*
They are teachers of infants (extremely religiously immature).*
Why does all of this matter? Because centering on the law without obeying it (the Jews of the time were not obeying it) leads to hypocrisy and guilt before God.* In this, they dishonored God.*
Why does this matter to us? Many of us look at ourselves and see something that we believe to be true. We see our calling, our purpose, and our identity. When we look at these things, we may think they are good, but are they true? Could it be that within our strengths and privileges there are hidden agendas and beliefs that look like pride, hypocrisy, and guilt before God? Could it be that though we know the law, we do not practice it? Though we know what pleases God, we do not do it?
Could it be that while thinking we are righteous, we are really dishonoring God?
As a part of looking at the things we believe about ourselves, we must look at the things that we believe about others and our purpose in their life. We must look at what we believe about our relationship with God and ask Him for honest feedback. We must ask God for a Paul in our life who will be brave enough to tell us how it really is: we rely too much on good things when we should rely on God.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to reexamine the motives of your heart in relationship to things that are good. Perhaps God wants you to shift gears to rely on Him even in your strengths. Maybe God wants to use you to be a voice like Paul in someone’s life. Perhaps God wants you to listen to the Paul that He has placed in your path for this season.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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*Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 72-76). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 91-93).