Peter Barnes | Romans 2:17-24
SERMON NOTES
ARE THE JEWS ANY BETTER?
(Romans 2:17-24)
– Sheldon Vanauken sad that the best argument against Christianity is Christians.
1. The Jews rely on the law.
– 2:17-22; he is not criticising the law as such (see 7:10, 12)
– but they misuse the law by resting on it (Micah 3:11), boasting in God (Luke 18:11), knowing God’s will, approving what is excellent (as we should – see Phil.1:10), and being instructed in the law.
– But note John 9:34 as a contrast to 2 Kings 22:11.
2. The Jews fail to keep the law.
– 2:21-23; four questions to do with hypocrisy, stealing, adultery, and robbing temples (probably Deut.7:25-26 rather than Malachi 3:8).
– this is just a representative list; and it goes beyond the so-called boundary markers of food laws, circumcision, and holy days.
3. The Jews dishonour God’s name among the Gentiles.
– 2:23-24 (Isa.52:5 and Ezek.36:20-22)
– see John 13:35; Matt.5:16; Martyn Lloyd-Jones used to tell his congregation that they carried the reputation of God with them through the streets of London.