The more you know the more will be expected of you. That’s what Paul seems to be saying to the Jews in Rome.
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2 v 17-24)
If you know God’s will because He has spoken to you.
If you know what is the best and right way to live (a superior way).
If you know how to help other people navigate life leading them through their darkness into the light.
If this is you. If you have the Law of Moses, the special revelation of God ….
If you teach those who do not know what you know (the foolish) and who are like little children with regard the revelation of God. If this is you …
Dash (v20) (wait for effect)
If this is you but you commit things that you know you shouldn’t …
(Paul makes a short list, not necessarily because this is what he has seen physically, in fact he has never been to Rome or met these people so perhaps he is thinking about the issues of the heart. Stealing and adultery being greed and lust is often used in the gospels especially)
… then are you any better than anyone else?
Even though you have a name, have revelation (Torah), have a relationship with God (chosen), know His will, know what is best, know how to help people do life and you teach them, what actual good will this do for you? What benefit do you receive? Nothing.
If you break the law yourself then all you know and all you do is worth nothing.
Being a Jew won’t save you.
Being any kind of religious person won’t save you.
We cannot save ourselves.
The only claim you have is that you have a Saviour called Jesus.
Thank you for reading this would you please help me raise money for an old Bible College friend, I was her Pastor for several years, Ukrainian Svetlana Souzko, currently in Romania with her son having left her family behind in Kyiv.
Missions Paul 