2 Therefore you have no excuse,
O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you
condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We
know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do
you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them
yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you
presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing
that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But
because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself
on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to
those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality,
he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking
and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and
fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human
being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but
glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also
the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
God's
Judgment and the Law
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish
without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the
law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous
before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For
when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires,
they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They
show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their
conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even
excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God
judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast
in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent,
because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure
that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in
darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of
children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you
then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against
stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit
adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You
who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For,
as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but
if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So,
if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is
physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the
written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one
is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of
the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but
from God.
6-11:
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to
those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality,
he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking
and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and
fury.
Pretty self-explanatory.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human
being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but
glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also
the Greek.
There will be suffering for those who do bad, and glory and honor and peace for those who do good.
Notice in both instances it says "The Jew first and also the Greek". Why? Because the Jews are God's chosen people. They will get tribulation first, because they are expected to know better. The Greeks will have tribulation as well, but not as severe as the Jews. It's like the court system in America, they charge people under 18 with less severity than people over 18. Why? Because people over 18 is expected to fully know right from wrong, while people under 18 is still maturing, same with a mentally unhealthy person, they can't really comprehend what they are doing or that it's wrong. "For much has been given, much will be required". The Jews had countless signs and warnings to turn back to God, and the Jews have refused. So God opened up His Mercy and Glory and Love to the Greeks because His chosen people have refused him. Look at John 4:19-23:
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God opened the door for Greeks.
Now, does this mean that God has given up on the Jews? No, not at all. But we will get more on this later.
11 For God shows no partiality.
It's just what it says: For God shows no partiality. He loves us all the same.