1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But 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. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.
12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. (NIV)
Main Points and Discussion Questions
1. Jews are just as guilty before God as Gentiles (2:1-5).
Disc. Question #1: Does this passage have a broader application than for just Jews? In other words, who else might greatly benefit from hearing these words of warning from Paul? Why?
2. God judges everyone impartially on the same basis (2:6-11).
Disc. Question #2: In their study of Romans, some Christians find it more difficult to take Chapter 2 as seriously as the others, because, to them, verses 7, 10 and 13 seems to contradict what Chapter 3 teaches – namely, that we are declared righteous by Christ on the basis of grace only through faith only.
What would you interpret the meaning of 2:7, 10, 13 to be, and why?
3. Simply hearing the Ten Commandments does not put anyone in a favourable position when it comes to God’s judgment, especially because God has placed knowledge of right and wrong in every human conscience (2:12-16).
Disc. Question #3: Given what you know from verses 12 to 16, that God has written His Law on the conscience of every human being, would you still use the Ten Commandments in your proclamation of the gospel to unbelievers today? Why or why not?
