Day 26: So do you think that you can judge those other people? You are wrong. You too are guilty of sin. You judge them, but you do the same things they do. So when you judge them, you are really condemning yourself. (Romans 2:1).
As you see in the biblical way of teaching we are taught not to judge others that there is only one judge alone— God himself is the only judge so when we as humans judge we are sinning and condemning ourselves for we are not living the rightful law of God but instead living in sin of our own faults with Satan
What Does Romans 2:1 Mean? ►
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Romans 2:1(NASB)
Verse Thoughts
Step by step the book of Romans takes us from the depths of man’s sin to the heights of man’s salvation. Little by little Paul guides us from recognising the serious nature of our depravity; our rebellion against God and the shocking consequences of our estrangement from Him.. to the glorious truth that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.. that we are justified by grace through faith in the only begotten Son of God and that we are clothed in His righteousness; redeemed by His blood; made a new creation in Christ and set free from slavery to the world; the flesh; the devil and the Law.
But Paul does not withhold his punches when he describes the disgusting depths of depravity and debauchery to which the whole of humanity has sunk. And verse by verse Paul builds up the blistering catalogue of corruption and perversity to which men and women throughout history have fallen.. and the pit of shame into which we all have plummeted – before the Lord Himself pulled us out of the miry clay and set our feet on the Rock of our Salvation – Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul accurately describes the evil intent of humanity’s hypocritical heart, and how we who are saved by grace through faith delight to wag our finger of accusation against the misdemeanors of the unsaved in order to publicize our superior standard! It is not so much the specific sins to which Paul is referring but the irrecoverable, fallen nature of our sinful humanity.
When one accusational finger of critical judgement is levied at another, we have three accusational finger of critical judgement exposing our own sinful heart. The catalogue of corruption that Paul has so articulately presented in the precious chapter is simply a mirror that reflects our own bloodied heart and testifies to our equal and desperate need of God’s grace upon grace upon much more grace. And so Paul charges believers with these words: Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
This sin of self-righteous superiority of the believer is equally if not more offensive to our heavenly Father – for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory and perfection of God and it is a heart of compassion for those who are lost in their sin and blinded to the glorious gospel of grace, that should ignite in our heart a deep compassion for the lost, and not a supercilious, critical judgement on their sins.
Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/romans-2-1
What does Romans 2:1 mean?
Chapter and verse divisions were not part of the original Scriptures. So, this passage must be read in close connection with the conclusion of Romans 1. Paul has just finished describing the “ungodliness and unrighteousness” of humanity in our rejection of Him. He concluded that section with a long list of the human sins that result when God gives us over to our debased minds in response to our rejection of God (Romans 1:18–32).
It’s likely that Paul’s Jewish readers, those who religiously followed the law of Moses, imagined Paul’s description to have been leveled at Gentile—non-Jewish—pagans and those they considered “sinners.” Perhaps even Gentiles who followed moral philosophies imagined Paul’s words as being meant for other ears.
Paul now seems to read the minds of these self-appointed “judges.” He says to them—to all of us, really—that they are not the one with the gavel. You, “oh man,” are the one on trial. And we are all guilty. How can this be? Paul says it plainly, “You do the same things.” In addition to participating in some of the sins Paul lists in Romans 1, these judges also practice the sin of hypocrisy in their judgment of other guilty people.
Paul’s religious readers, especially those who follow the law, might protest that they do not do the things Paul has described. Paul will show in Romans 2, however, that even the most religious of Jews will be judged for their sinful choices.
Context Summary
Romans 2:1–11 springs a trap, of sorts, for every reader who thought that Paul’s devastating list of sins at the end of Romans 1 was about other people. In truth, everyone is guilty of sin. Those who judge others are guilty, also, of hypocrisy. Nobody will escape God’s judgment for personal sin, including religious Jews and Gentiles. God will absolutely judge each person according to what he or she has done. If someone has lived sinlessly, doing only good, he will receive rewards and eternal life. If not, he deserves wrath and fury. This point sets up Paul’s explanation of how we can, in fact, obtain salvation: by grace through faith.
Chapter Summary
Romans 2 springs a trap on any religious person who read Paul’s lists of sins at the end of Romans 1 and thought it wasn’t about them. Paul calls them out for making themselves judges when they are also guilty. He shows that God will judge everyone, including those under the law, based on their works. This prefaces this letter’s theme of salvation by grace, through faith, rather than by works. Many benefits come with having the law, but only if those under the law keep it. Jewishness—circumcision—must be an inner state, not just an outer one. Paul will show in the following chapter that none of us really meets those conditions
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