Here the last part of Romans 2, and it presents the key point that Paul is trying to make:
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. (Romans 2:28-29) [emphasis mine]So, there it is: We are justified by Christ because we have accepted His gracious offer of salvation provided by His death on the cross. We are praised by God by making the right choice. We stand in front of God, clothed in His Son's righteousness. The Father loves the Son and now so do we.
Done.
Really? But what all those sinners out there? Let's redirect our attention to the Pharisees, the keepers of the nation of Israel's morality, and see how Jesus regarded them.
They would argue if you don't point out sin, then you are giving tacit approval to it. People need to know they are sinners so they can reach out to God. A drowning man may not know just how much trouble he's in until you show up as the Coast Guard, with your horn blaring. If he refuses to grab the lifesaver you are throwing him, that's his choice, but your job is to show up and inform him of his precarious situation.
Right?
Well, to the Pharisees the best way to inform sinners is by creating a list of laws they must follow if they want to separate themselves from those who don't. Behind every law is a sinner whose breaking of it warrants enshrining it. The Ten Commandments is a case in point. People lusted after idols, wouldn't worship the One true God, broke the Sabbath, didn't honor their parents, committed adultery, lusted after their neighbor's possessions, were willing to murder and steal, didn't honor the Sabbath, used God's name without reverence, and in general, made a righteous and civil society impossible.
OK. With that list, we need to remind people of the necessity of following the Law: We need to honor God with our behavior.
Makes sense.
So, what do we do with the Law? Teach it, model it, remind our children of its Author and His wonderful provision:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deut. 6:4-9)
Beautiful. They are not just behaviors that you assiduously do; they are in your heart, so you want to do them, because you want to please God, not just look pious to others. God is first in your thoughts: How may I please Him today?
Micah answers that question: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (6:8)
Jesus summarized all the teachings, laws and commands of the prophets to the Pharisees, who wanted to catch Jesus in a theological error, thereby discrediting Him:
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: '"Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:34-40)
Our love for God is the only motivation for obeying the Law. We obey not out of fear, self-righteousness or pride. We do not seek to condemn others by parading our obedience and casting a judgmental glance their way.
Loving God is what He desires from us. We are like the Moon: We can only reflects the Sun's light. We cannot produce any light of our own. The more we give ourselves to Him, the more light we reflect. Our love for Him should light up the night sky, and drive away the darkness.
So, how did Jesus treat the moral policemen of His day? Not very well. I am sure they were aghast at His condemnation, for they saw themselves as the enforcers, models and judges of those who sinned and needed to be called out on it.
Hypocrisy is the devil's playground and the Pharisees were out in the yard, bright and early every day. In Matthew, Chapter 23, Jesus goes full bore against them, knowing that in their hearts, their love for God had been replaced with hypocrisy (and would lead to wanting to murder Him).
Strike One: The Pharisees occupy a place of authority, so the people look up to them for teaching, wisdom and guidance. But they themselves don't follow their own teachings and they heap requirement after requirement for the people to follow, all the while distaining the people's failures. No wonder: The burdens are just that--people are not energized by their love for God, but by believing that following a list of Thou-Shall-Not's will please God. Wrong. We cannot, in our own power or even wanting to be good, sustain a righteous life.
God wants our love and out of that love comes an ever-increasing awareness and displeasure of sin. He empowers us to lead the very life He wants us to lead; Paul cries out for us all: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Rom. 7:24-5)
Next: “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (23:5-12)
Strike Two: It's all about the show and with a big show comes adulation and "Oh, Rabbi, you're the best! Come dine with me and please sit in the place of honor!" First the focus is on the leaders, for teaching from Moses' seat gives them the authority to direct the people. But the focus moves to being about the leaders personally: They love being honored everywhere they go, and bask under the title of Rabbi.
Jesus deftly moves the focus back to where it should be: On God, Who is our Teacher and the Messiah, Who will guide, empower and model a life based on a uncompromised love.
Strike Three and You're Out! The Pharisees are not humble people. They know what they know and that is good enough to continue being leaders in their community.
But Jesus has another definition of leadership: Humility. Humility comes out of our love for God. We recognize our lowly estate and reach out our hand to the One Who loves us so, knowing that what He asks us to do, He will empower us to do.
Those in power, who love taking the place of God and try to be other people's Holy Spirit, will be brought low in the Kingdom of God. Those who know their need and want to love God with all their heart, mind and soul and yet still struggle, will be raised up, for a humble child brings God delight.
Next time, we will focus on the seven woes Jesus levies at the Pharisees. The lesson here is how to minimize Satan's incursions into our lives and live in such a manner that people are attracted, not repelled, by us.
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