Summary of passage: We have no right to pass judgement on others cause we do the same things (hypocrites). God judges us based on Truth and He’ll judge us as well. His kindness leads us towards repentance.
Questions:
3) We have no excuse to pass judgment on others because we commit the same sins. God bases His judgement on Truth (facts).
4) Part personal Question. My answer: Passing judgment in condemning others for sins when that is God’s job. We should teach God’s standards instead of judging. Our standards in judging is different than God’s standards. I struggle with those who do things that to me is outrageous that I’d never do.
5) Personal Question. My answer: He has given me all I have including my family. He sticks by me when I’m stubborn and do dumb things. He waits on me to figure out how dumb I’m being. He forgives me for that and loves me anyways. I try to be patient with others and kind. I try not to judge because that is God’s job.
Conclusions: This teaching is everywhere in our folklore: It takes one to know one. The pot calling the kettle black. Paul is warning us to not be hypocrites as we all sin (often it’s the same sins) and then we criticize others for it. God will handle it. Let it be. You insult God by trying to do His job.
End Notes: Paul is going to set forth principles that govern God’s judgment. God judges according to:
- Truth (verse 2)
- Deeds (verse 6-11)
- Light a person has (verse 12-15)
This will lay the groundwork for Paul’s discussion of the guilt of the Jews (verses 17-29).
Having pointed out some of the worst crimes in Romans 1, Paul doesn’t excuse those who may be thinking they are better than those in Chapter 1. Man is not so different from each other. We are all the same: sinners. We all deserve God’s judgment/wrath upon us.
We should repent and not have a superior attitude.
This teaching is in accordance with Jesus’s teaching who in Matthew 7:1 condemns hypocritical judging, not judging per se. This is a warning for Jews who were inclined to look down on the Gentiles because of their ignorance of the Old Testament and their immoral lives.
God has been good to us because He has not judged us yet. He tolerates our present sin. He has patience knowing we will sin again and again–every day of our lives. These riches show God’s mercy upon us.
God’s goodness and kindness towards the wicked (and us) is to lead us to repentance. We choose. He doesn’t make us. Everything He gives us we don’t deserve. For that alone, we must repent and lead a new life in Christ. The Jews have misconstrued this patience to be a lack of intent to judge.
