Romans 2:1

1 Therefore thou art unexcusable, each man that deemest, for in what thing thou deemest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou doest the same things which thou deemest.

Romans 2:1 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 2:1

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man
Some think, from the connection of these words with the preceding chapter, that the Gentiles are here meant; and particularly those among them who seemed to be virtuous, and took upon them to be the reprovers of others, and yet did the same things themselves, as Socrates, Cato, Seneca, and others; and therefore must be inexcusable, because they knew better, and would be thought to have been so; wherefore such could never be justified before God by their works, but might be justly condemned by him, nor shall they escape his righteous judgment. Others think the Jews are meant, who despised and condemned the Gentiles, and thought themselves to be righteous persons, and justified in the sight of God; and who, though they were secretly guilty of many abominable iniquities, yet were very severe upon the sins of others, and therefore inexcusable: others think that magistrates are designed, whether among Jews or Gentiles, who reprove and punish sin in others, and therefore must be supposed to know the law, and the nature of sin, and so are inexcusable and self-condemned when they do the same things; wherefore though they may pass with impunity among men, they shall not escape the judgment of God. Rather the words respect every man, of whatsoever nation, office, or place; and may be particularly applied to hypocrites, and seem designed to correct censoriousness, and hasty judging, and to throw confusion on such who value themselves on being the censurers and reprovers of others:

whosoever thou art that judgest;
whether a Jew or a Gentile, a public magistrate or a private person:

for wherein thou judgest another;
that is, in what case or instance; the Complutensian edition and the Arabic version read, "in" "or with what judgment thou judgest another"; (See Gill on Matthew 7:2);

thou condemnest thyself;
by judging them:

for thou that judgest dost the same things;
art guilty of the same thing condemned in others, and therefore must be self-condemned.

Romans 2:1 In-Context

1 Therefore thou art unexcusable, each man that deemest, for in what thing thou deemest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou doest the same things which thou deemest.

2 And we know, that the doom of God is after truth against them, that do such things.

3 But guessest thou, man, that deemest them that do such things, and thou doest those things [and thou doest them], that thou shalt escape the doom of God?

4 Whether thou despisest the riches of his goodness, and the patience, and the long abiding? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to repenting? [Whether despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and long abiding? Unknowest thou, that the benignity, or good will, of God leadeth thee to penance?]

5 But after thine hardness and unrepentant heart, thou treasurest to thee wrath in the day of wrath [Forsooth after thy hardness and unrepentant heart, thou treasurest to thee wrath into the day of wrath] and of showing of the rightful doom of God,