Romans 2:1-10
Rom 2:1 (KJV)
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Now Paul begins an exhortation that whoever judges another person, be it Jew or Gentile, are guilty of performing some of the sins Paul listed in the previous chapter. That is because every human being on Earth has sinned, and has partaken in at least one or more of those mentioned sins. Paul is saying basically that it is hypocritical to point the finger at another person, when the one doing the pointing is guilty of the same sins. If they condemn a person for sinning, they are in essence condemning themselves because the Bible plainly teaches that every human being on earth has sinned. (1 Ki 8:46 KJV) If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; When we condemn others for sinning, we are condemning ourselves because at the Judgment throne on the last day, if a person is not redeemed, the accusers as well as those accused, will be judged and condemned and cast into eternal Hell.

 
Rom 2:2 (KJV)
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Since man is not all-knowing and can only have the partial facts, when God judges each individual on the last day, He will judge from the point of having every fact, no matter how hard the individual tried to hide them. (Heb 4:13 KJV) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Those who stand for their sins on the last day will definitely have some of those sins in Chapter one laid to their charge, and it does not matter whether the person is a Jew or Gentile. Any unsaved person, regardless of race, will be judged and sentenced to an eternity in Hell.
 

Rom 2:3 (KJV)
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Paul speaks to the Jews here in that they had the superior mindset, just because they had the law and the temple, they thought that they had some kind of special relationship with God which annulled any judgment for their sins. This is one of the most dangerous mindsets to have. No one will escape the Judgment of God. In fact there are many who hold to Dispensational Theology and believe that all the Jews will become saved and none will suffer damnation. This is unheard of and is not taught anywhere in the Bible. It is salvation by grace and not by race. There will be millions of Jews who will wake up at the Judgment on the last day and give account for their sins. Even the Christians were judged for sins but vicariously through the Lord Jesus Christ, nevertheless, it was a judgment.

 
Rom 2:4 (KJV)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

In many ancient belief systems, if their gods were angered, the people who angered them believed they would suffer in this life in some manner. Now Paul is telling them that God is very rich in goodness. The word “goodness” carries with it the meaning of someone being filled with the quality of goodness. Paul also speaks of God being rich in forbearance and longsuffering. The word “riches” carries with it the meaning of “wealth or abundance.” The word “forbearance” carries with it the idea of “delay, holding back, or tolerance.” The word “longsuffering” carries with it the meaning of “ patience, endurance, or long before becoming angry.” They were misunderstanding the reason that God seemed silent concerning Judgment. We get a little insight into this from 1 Peter 3:20. (1 Pet 3:20 KJV) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. God was patient while Noah was building the Ark and then when the Ark was completed, Judgment came in one day. It is the same with our present age. God is longsuffering in that He has a timetable for these last days but when the last one of His Elect becomes saved, then the end shall come and swiftly. Paul is trying to get these people to understand that God is patient but to presume upon that patience is a very dangerous act because it deceives a person into believing that judgment will not come, when in essence it seems delayed because the last one has not been saved yet. The last part of this verse speaks of the goodness of God leading to repentance. There are two forms of repentance which are in view. The first, is that the goodness of God in dealing with the sins of His children will eventually lead them to repentance when God calls them in His timing. Repentance unto salvation is a gift which comes from God. (2 Tim 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; When a true child of God comes to repentance which brings them to the truth, then that repentance is unto salvation. The second type of repentance is that of outward remorse. It is the kind that Esau showed after he sold his birthright to Jacob. (2 Cor 7:10 KJV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. A person can be involved in a sin and then repents of it but not unto salvation. We see this all the time in groups like Alcoholics Anonymous which dries people out but does nothing to give them the Gospel unto salvation.

 
Rom 2:5 (KJV)
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Paul makes a sharp contrast between verses 4 and 5. Here Paul is stating that these people are very hard. The word “hardness” carries with it the meaning of “resistance to movement or change.” They were steadfast in their sins and had no intention of being repentant. Therefore, every day which they live, they would amass more sins which they would have to give account for on Judgment day. God’s righteous judgment would be revealed in that day which means whatever He judges and declares will be from the standpoint of perfect knowledge and there will be no refutation of the decree.

 
Rom 2:6 (KJV)
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Everyone who appears at the Great White Throne Judgment will receive due justice according to their deeds. Al Capone was responsible for the deaths of almost 1,000 men and he will receive according to his deeds. Abortion doctors kill thousands of babies, they will receive according to their deeds. Religious moral people believe they are good enough to get into Heaven, they will receive according to their deeds. No matter who you are, religious or reprobate, without Christ as your Savior, you will receive according to your deeds.

 
Rom 2:7 (KJV)
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

This verse is speaking of those who have become saved because no one will enter Heaven through any type of patience or continuing in good things, that would constitute a salvation by works. This verse speaks of those believers who patiently involve themselves in good works which is for the furtherance of the Kingdom. They seek the glory and honor of Christ which results in eternal life. The unbeliever does not seek the glory and honor of Christ but they seek their own glory and honor in hopes that will be enough to get them into Heaven.

 
Rom 2:8 (KJV)
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Here is the contrasting verse. Those who are contentious, which are those who are ready to argue or cause strife, are those who do not obey the truth which results in unrighteousness and the reward of that is indignation and wrath. Indignation carries with it the meaning of “rage or great anger.” Wherever Paul went he met the Judaizers who constantly opposed him with anger and caused him much trouble. Their attitude was in concert with the wrath of God they would eventually face for these sins. They obeyed their sinful natures instead of seeking out the truth of God, instead, according to their belief system, they opposed it.

 
Rom 2:9 (KJV)
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

To those who choose to disobey God, whether Jew or Gentile, there will be tribulation. The word “tribulation carries with it the meaning of “affliction or oppression.” Then there is much distress and suffering which results from this tribulation. These are not only evident upon earth but will carry into eternity as the soul in rebellion to God suffers for eternity.

 
Rom 2:10 (KJV)
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

To those who become saved through the Lord Jesus Christ will have the glory of God in them, and will have honor, and will be indwelled with peace for all eternity. The one who works good is the one who is saved, and that also applies to either Jews or Gentiles. A Jew who tries to keep the law will fail and will wind up under eternal damnation just as the Gentile who worships idols.
 
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