The Jews' High Privilege
Romans 2:17-24
“But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 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. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”” -Romans 2:17–24
In verses 17-18, Paul lists five privileges the Jews claim to possess as their own. The Jew:
relies on the law
boasts in (about his relationship with) God
knows God’s will
(is able to) approve what is excellent
and is instructed from the law.
In verse 18, Paul speaks of the last three in the list: know his (God’s) will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law…
The Jews’ knowledge of God’s will is not a specialized knowledge of his inscrutable will; they don’t have secret knowledge about God’s future plans for individuals or nations, for example. Rather, in contrast to the Pagan nations, they have been instructed by God’s perfect law of liberty in regard to what is excellent (virtuous) regarding ethics, justice, and morality. Consider Psalm 19:7–10 Cf. James 1:25:
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” -Psalm 19:7–10
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” -James 1:25
In other words, they have been privileged to know, more than other nation has, how God desires people to live. As the Psalmist proclaims, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” -Psalm 119:105
This is the Jew’s high privilege; it is also his bitter condemnation when he fails to obey.
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