Romans 2:27

27 You Jews have the written law and circumcision, but you break the law. So those who are not circumcised in their bodies, but still obey the law, will show that you are guilty.

Romans 2:27 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 2:27

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature
That is, the Gentiles, who are by nature uncircumcised; for as circumcision was by the command of God, and performed by the art of men, uncircumcision is by nature, and what men naturally have. Now

if it,
such persons,

fulfil the law
in Christ, they will

judge thee,
the circumcision: and condemn, as Noah condemned the old world, ( Hebrews 11:7 ) , and the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south will condemn the men of that generation, in which Christ lived, ( Matthew 12:41 Matthew 12:42 ) ( Luke 11:31 Luke 11:32 ) .

Who by the letter and circumcision transgress the law;
that is, either by the law, which is "the letter", and "by circumcision", or "by circumcision which is in the letter", ( Romans 2:29 ) , sin being increased by the prohibitions of the moral law, and the rituals of the ceremonial law, and the more so by a dependence upon an obedience to either of them, or both, for justification.

Romans 2:27 In-Context

25 If you follow the law, your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, it is as if you were never circumcised.

26 People who are not Jews are not circumcised, but if they do what the law says, it is as if they were circumcised.

27 You Jews have the written law and circumcision, but you break the law. So those who are not circumcised in their bodies, but still obey the law, will show that you are guilty.

28 They can do this because a person is not a true Jew if he is only a Jew in his physical body; true circumcision is not only on the outside of the body.

29 A person is a Jew only if he is a Jew inside; true circumcision is done in the heart by the Spirit, not by the written law. Such a person gets praise from God rather than from people.