Verses 1-3, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” It is possible for people to know the word, even teach the word, and be blinded to their own sin. Those within the church develop the same attitude that the Pharisees had before God. Luke 18:11, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” They judge others according to a set of standards that they are not keeping themselves, which makes them hypocrites. You may be able to fool man and escape judgement here on earth, but you are not fooling God one bit, because He knows the thoughts of your heart.
Verse 4, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” God's grace should have an effect on you...that you no longer desire to live unrighteously. The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin and you in turn respond in obedience. Otherwise, you simply received His grace in vain, and you are despising His grace. Although you may think you are saved, even though you practice unrighteousness, you're just storing up your own judgement for when the truth is revealed. Verses 5-11, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who 'will render to each one according to his deeds': eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”
Hearing the law does not justify you before God...many have heard the truth yet rejected it. Jesus said He spoke in parables, “because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13). If hearing the word is not mixed with faith, it will be ineffective for the hearer. Hebrews 4:2, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” In order for the word to profit us, it must be received in faith and acted upon, thereby producing the evidence of fruit in our lives. Verses 12-13, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.”
Verses 17-24, “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident 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 babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 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? For 'the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,' as it is written.” This is clearly referring to the Jews, but could you say the same of Christians today? When you use God's name, instruct others in the way to salvation, approve what is good, etc., but are full of unrighteousness yourself, you dishonor God through your disobedience. You may even cause the unsaved to blaspheme God.
When you deny God through your actions, even if you confess Him with your mouth, you are disqualified from doing His work. Titus 1:15-16, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” If you are truly His, you will purify yourself and conduct yourself in holiness and the fear of God. I Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' ”
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