Boasting in the Law and Dishonoring God Romans 2:23

Paul the apostle asked the Jews who were in Rome, “You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? you that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?, and in chapter two and verse twenty-three of Romans, Paul questioned those who make their, “boast in the law” and “dishonoring God” where we read:

You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonor you God?

The verse begins, “You that make your boast of the law, ...” Paul began with the words, “you that make your boast” which means “the Jews who fashion and form glory, vaunting and rejoicing” “of the law” or “of the rule producing a state approved of God”. Paul shared how the Jews to whom he wrote “gloried” in their possession of God's law.

The verse goes on to say, “... through breaking the law dishonor you God?” Paul continued with the words, “through breaking” which means “by the means, ground and reason disregarding, violating and breaching” “the law” or “the rule producing a state approved of God” “dishonor you” which refers to “insult, treat with contempt, render infamous, suffer shame and despise” “God” or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul questioned how the Jews could “glory” in God's law and not realize that by breaking His law they “insulted and treated God with contempt”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how having the “law of God” and “glorying” in it gave no advantage to the Jews if they were “violating” it's very content. In fact, doing so “dishonored, insulted and despised” God. Jesus Christ came to “save” people who did just this. Having God's law and bragging about it makes no difference in a person's life if they “insult” God by disobeying it. Those who are wise shall consider the advantages God has provided them in His Kingdom, and should they find themselves only “glorying” in those, let them turn to Jesus Christ, repent from their ways and turn to a true relationship with God through “belief and trust” in His Son Jesus.

Next time Paul tells these Jewish people, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.