Romans 2:22

22 Thou that teachest that me shall not do lechery, doest lechery? Thou that loathest maumets, doest sacrilege? [+Thou that sayest to not do lechery, doest lechery? Thou that loathest idols, or maumets, doest 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 a teacher of unwise men, a master of young children, that hast the form of knowing [having the form of science, or knowing,] and of truth in the law;
21 what then teachest thou another, and teachest not thyself? Thou that preachest that me shall not steal, stealest? [therefore thou that teachest another, teachest not thyself? Thou that preachest to not steal, stealest?]
22 Thou that teachest that me shall not do lechery, doest lechery? Thou that loathest maumets, doest sacrilege? [+Thou that sayest to not do lechery, doest lechery? Thou that loathest idols, or maumets, doest sacrilege?]
23 Thou that hast glory in the law, unhonourest God by breaking of the law? [Thou that gloriest in the law, by breaking of the law unworshippest, or despisest, God?]
24 For the name of God is blasphemed by you among heathen men, as [it] is written. [For the name of God by you is blasphemed among heathen men, as it is written.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.