Romans 2:22

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

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 babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
21 Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast in the law, dost thou dishonor God through breaking the law?
24 For, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you," as it is written.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.