Romans 2:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After this the Apostle sets forth the Jews' most grievous fault, saying, "You who boast in the law, through breaking the law you dishonor God."

He presented two faults, or more rightly, three. The Jews dishonor. They dishonor by what was appointed for their honor.

They dishonor Him Who gave them honor, and this is the summit of extreme ingratitude.

Paul brought forward two accusations, or rather three. They dishonor; they dishonor by what was intended for their honor; and they dishonor Him Who gave them honor.

This is the summit of extreme ingratitude. Then, lest he seem to accuse them on his own authority, he brings forward the prophet as their accuser.

Paul says: I am not reproaching you for this. Hear what Isaiah said: "Because of you the name of God is blasphemed among the nations" (Isa 52:5 LXX).

After this he sets forth the gravest guilt, saying: you boast in the law as one exalted with honor from God through the law, yet by transgressing the law you dishonor God. Here there are three charges. First, the Jews dishonor. Second, they dishonor God, Who exalted them with honor. Third, they dishonor the law by violating it, though it served for their honor.

Can one hope to be equal to the saint and rejoice together with the angels before the face of Christ, when we prefer a life for pleasure to the blessedness of life according to the commandment? Only someone foolish as a child could think this.

You transgress the law when you distort its meaning, which lies in the Incarnation and Godhead of Christ. You dishonor God when you do not accept His testimony concerning His Son. God Himself said: "This is My beloved Son" (Mt. 3:17).

The Apostle showed that the Jew gained no benefit from the giving of the law, but boasts in letters alone. While attempting to teach others, he contradicts his words by his deeds and boasts in the law in vain. To confirm the accusation, he also brings forward testimony.

You have seen how man has been honored by God. Know for certain that a man so honored by God "dishonors God" if he fearlessly violates His holy law.

The Apostle bears witness to this: "Through breaking the law you dishonor God." This word was spoken to lawless Jews, but now it also applies to Christians.

They have entered in place of the Jews, have received the law of God, and boast in the knowledge of God. Yet they are not afraid shamelessly and fearlessly to violate His holy law.

Therefore the wrath of God will overtake them, unless they truly turn to God.

O, if man would consider how God has honored him, and how he dishonors the God Who honored him, he would ceaselessly sigh, weep, and lament.

Neither teaching others (v. 21), nor boasting in God (v. 17), nor knowing His will and discerning what is better (v. 18) is counted as sin. But it is counted as a great sin when a man knows God's will, boasts in God, teaches others, and yet himself commits transgressions (v. 22). Teaching is not abolished. Rather, teachers are charged with the obligation to be the first doers of the law they preach.

The Jews must appear at God's judgment even more guilty than the pagans. For they knew the will of God and were taught what is better from the law.

Yet by their life they only dishonored the name of God among the pagans. The prophets also accused them of this.

"Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and boast in God," that is, that He is chiefly your God and not the pagans' God.

"You understand what is better, being taught from the law, and are confident that you are a guide of the blind," and "an instructor of the ignorant."

How then do you not teach yourself? "You boast in the law, yet through breaking the law you dishonor God.

For because of you, as it is written, the name of God is blasphemed among the nations" (Isa 52:5; Ezek 36:20).

As though sparing the Hebrews, the Apostle has until now spoken of them without naming them directly. Now, when the essential thought concerning their guilt has already been stated, he unfolds it in greater detail.

He shows where they were especially sinful. Here the Hebrews' boasting in their divine election and their knowledge of the law, without fulfilling it, is exposed with full force.

It is also shown that the Hebrews violate the most essential and first commandments. They do not believe, they commit adultery, and they commit sacrilege.

Even honorable pagans abhor such transgressions. Therefore they even give the pagans occasion to think badly of the true God Himself.

"You boast in the law," that is, you boast in the law because you received it from God Himself. Therefore you are confident that God does not regard you as a stranger, but especially favors you.

But in putting forward this advantage, you ought to have been wholly faithful to the law. You should have shown yourself worthy of this mercy of God toward you, His gift of the law.

Before all nations, you should have shown that God's election of you was not shameful, and that God was right to prefer you over the other nations.

But you carelessly transgress the law. By transgressing it, you dishonor God, Who gave it to you.