Romans 2:22

22 The same with adultery. The same with idolatry.

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 feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God.
21 While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you?
22 The same with adultery. The same with idolatry.
23 You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law.
24 The line from Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.