Paul Calls Out the Moralist!

After Paul refers to the person who has given themselves over to the depravity of their sinful nature, he now turns to who we might call the "moralist".  These may have been his fellow Jews who considered themselves morally pure because they were given the Law and claimed an exemption as a result of their relationship with God.   

God’s Judgment of Sin

2 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

At the heart of a moralist is a judgmental person who considers others as inferior to themselves.  They selectively judge these "sinners" based on their own standards of righteousness.  This was at the heart of the Pharisees Jesus encountered.  He call them "whitewashed tombs".  They appeared to be clean and holy on the outside, but were a rotting corpse on the inside.  

Paul's main point is that when we as human beings judge others based on our own standards, we assume we are above the same judgment.  By judging others we agree that there is a standard of righteousness, but we are excluded from the same standard we apply to others.  

Finally, Paul points out the hypocrisy of their moralism.  Though the moralist presumes they deserve all the grace and kindness they needed to turn to God, they deny the same grace to others.  One of the most important verses in chapter 2 is, "Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin."  If we truly see the kindness God has given us it is almost impossible for us to be a judgmental moralist. 

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Paul then confronts their real problem.  They are stubborn and refuse to repent.  They spend so much time judging others they forget to look in the mirror and see their own need for a Savior.  In the next couple of verses we need to be careful not to misinterpret Paul's writing.  We would make a mistake to think that by doing good deeds we can merit eternal life and be saved from our sin.  Paul is setting the stage for the rest of the letter to the Romans where he will clearly point out that since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, we all need a Savior.  Paul's main point in verses 6-10 is that God is impartial and fair.  He judges each person by the same standard.  If someone always did the right thing they would deserve eternal life, but for those who do evil they deserve the wrath of God.  

Finally, he makes a reference to both the Jews and Gentiles.  For the Jews the Gentiles were dirty, unclean, and beyond redemption, whereas they had a special relationship with God. Guzik writes, "Some ancient rabbis taught that God showed partiality towards the Jews. They said: “God will judge the Gentiles with one measure and the Jews with another.” Though the Jews were God's chosen people and children of the covenant, the purpose of God's special relationship with the Jews was to bring in a Savior who would be for all people.  

Question:  Do you judge others?  Do you look at others and think I am glad I am not a sinner like them?  Do you tend to create your own standards of righteousness based on what you deem important?  Or, when you see a notorious sinner do you say, though they may do things i would never do at the root we are both sinners in need of a Savior.  If we truly understand God's kindness and grace he has given to us, we will realize that all of us have sinned and deserve punishment by a holy and righteous God.  Instead we will put all our chips on the kindness and goodness of God that led us to repentance and eternal life.