Romans 2:17-24

17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your
relationship to God; 18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because
you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the
blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher
of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself ? You who preach against
stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery,
do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who
brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written:
“God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Meditation
1. In this passage, Paul is pointing his fingers at the hypocritical Jews.  How does
this kind of person view self and others?
The Jews bragged about their being in God’s covenant.  They knew God’s will
and even approved of it.  But the issue is they didn’t do God’s will.
2. When was the last time I said or taught one thing yet acted quite differently?
3. Could Paul also be pointing at me?  How does this realization affect me?

Personal Note:
The hypocritical Jews thought they were superior and yet they were not followers of what they taught.  The point really narrows down to whether we do God's will.  I taught that we are to be humble, to love others around us, and be passionate to share the good news of Christ to others.  When I feel arrogant, not caring for others, and lacking motivation to share the Gospel, I become a hypocrite.

My only hope in not being a wicked hypocrite is to love God with all my heart and soul, and trust that God loves me and obeying His will is the best thing I can do in my life.