Verse of the Day

　　

Romans 2:21-23

You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

　　

Translations of Today's Verse

King James Version

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

English Standard Version

You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

The Message

While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law.

New King James Version

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

New Living Translation

Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you do it? You condemn idolatry, but do you steal from pagan temples? You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.

　　

Commentary on Today's Verse

Commentary on Romans 2:17-24

(Read Romans 2:17-24)

　　The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion, by their not living according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.

　　

Romans 2:21-23 In-Context

19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,

　　20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-

　　21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

　　22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

　　23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

　　24 As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22

　　25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.