Romans 2:22

22 The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples?

Romans 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 2:22

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery
Adultery here is to be taken not figuratively for adulterating the word of God, and mixing it with their own inventions; but literally for the sin of adultery, and that not in heart only, but in act:

dost thou commit adultery?
an iniquity which greatly prevailed among the Jews at this time of day; hence Christ calls them "an adulterous generation", ( Matthew 12:39 ) ( 16:4 ) ( Mark 8:38 ) ; and that to such a degree, that by the advice of their great Rabbi, R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, they left off the trial of the suspected woman, cases of this nature being so very numerous: and this sin prevailed not only among the common people, but among their principal doctors; as may be learnt from their own writings, and from that conviction of this iniquity which the Scribes and Pharisees were brought under by Christ, when the woman, taken in adultery, was had before him by them, ( John 8:9 ) .

Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
for though at this time they abhorred idolatry, to which their forefathers were so much inclined, and so often fell into, yet they were guilty of sacrilege; by violating the worship of God, and polluting it with their own inventions; by pillaging or withholding, or not offering the sacrifices they ought; and by plundering the temple, and converting the sacred things of it to their own use.

Romans 2:22 In-Context

20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal?
22 The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples?
23 Who boast in the law, by the transgression of the law you dishonor God!
24 For just as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.