1. (11-13) God’s principle of impartiality.
For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
a. For there is no partiality with God: The word translated partiality comes from two ancient Greek words put together – to receive and face. It means to judge things on the basis of externals or preconceived notions.
i. Some ancient rabbis taught that God showed partiality towards the Jews. They said: “God will judge the Gentiles with one measure and the Jews with another.”
b. For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified: God’s righteous judgment is not withheld because someone has heard the law; it is only held back if someone actually does the law.
i. The Jewish person – or the religious person – may think that he is saved because he has the law; but has he kept it? The Gentile may think that he is saved because he does not have the law, but has he kept the dictates of his own conscience?
ii. “People will be condemned, not because they have the law or do not have the law, but because they have sinned.” (Morris)
c. As many as have sinned without law will also perish without law: Judgment for sin can come with or without the law.
2. (14-16) Possession of the law is no advantage to the Jewish man in the Day of Judgment.
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
a. Although not having the law, are a law to themselves: Paul explains why the Gentile can be condemned without the law. Their conscience (which is the work of the law written in their hearts) is enough to condemn them – or, theoretically this law on the heart is enough to justify them.
i. Written in their hearts: Many pagan authors of Paul’s day referred to the “unwritten law” within man. They thought of it as something that pointed man to the right way. Though it is not embodied in written laws, it is in some ways more important than the written law.
ii. A law to themselves does not mean that these “obedient Gentiles” made up their own law (as we use the expression “a law unto himself”), but that they were obedient to conscience, the work of the law residing in themselves.
iii. “He indeed shows that ignorance is in vain pretended as an excuse by the Gentiles, since they prove by their own deeds that they have some rule of righteousness.” (Calvin)
b. Their thoughts accusing or else excusing them: In theory, a man might be justified (“excused”) by obeying his conscience. Unfortunately, every man has violated his conscience (God’s internal revelation to man), just as every man has violated God’s written revelation.
i. While Paul says in Romans 2:14 that a Gentile, may by nature do the things contained in the law he is careful to not say that a Gentile could fulfill the requirements of the law by nature.
ii. Though God has His work within every man (resulting in conscience), man can corrupt that work, so that conscience varies from person to person. We also know that our conscience can become damaged through sin and rebellion, but then can be restored in Jesus.
iii. If our conscience is condemning us wrongly, we can take comfort in the idea that God is greater than our heart (1 John 3:20).
c. Their conscience also bearing witness: People who have never heard God’s word directly still have a moral compass they are accountable to – the conscience.
i. “God is describing how He has constituted all men: there is a ‘work’ within them, making them morally conscious.” (Newell)
ii. “He is not saying that the law is written on their hearts, as people often say, but that the work of the law, what the law requires of people, is written there.” (Morris)
d. The day when God will judge: On this day no man will escape God’s judgment by claiming ignorance of His written revelation. Violating God’s internal revelation is enough to condemn us all.
i. “God therefore will judge all nations according to the use and abuse they have made of this word, whether it was written in the heart, or written on tables of stone.” (Clarke)
e. According to my gospel: Notice that the day of judgment was a part of Paul’s gospel. He did not shrink from declaring man’s absolute accountability to God.
i. “‘My gospel.’ Does not this show his courage? As much as to say, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God onto salvation to every one that believeth.’ He says, ‘my gospel,’ as a soldier speaks of ‘my colors,’ or of ‘my king.’ He resolves to bear this banner to victory, and to serve this royal truth even to the death.” (Spurgeon)
f. God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ: This concept is distinctively Christian. The Jews taught that God the Father alone would judge the world, committing judgment to no one – not even the Messiah.
3. (17-20) The boast of the Jewish man.
Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
a. Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law: Every “boast” of the Jewish man in this passage concerns the possession of law. The Jewish people of Paul’s day were extremely proud and confident in the fact that God gave His holy law to them as a nation. They believed this confirmed their status as a specially chosen people, and thus insured their salvation.
b. Having the form of knowledge: Although the Jew should gratefully receive the law as a gift from God, Paul will show how mere possession of the law justifies no one.