Romans 2:17-26
17 “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a
corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [y]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples?23 You who boast in the law, through your breaking the law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the law; but if you are a violator of the law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision?”
Paul uses sarcastic language to poke at the Jew’s self-righteousness. The Jews had the law and were looking to it for righteousness. And yet they were breaking the Ten Commandments (stealing, adultery, idol worship). Paul then quotes an Old Testament prophecy which speaks of Gentiles mocking God because of Israel’s behavior (Isaiah 52:5). In Romans 2:24 Paul is adding salt to the wound by showing that Gentiles mock God because of Israel’s failure to keep the law and be a light to the world.
