We're trying to find a solution so Kajsa can keep translating to Swedish as we're having some computer issues. Until then, I guess we'll keep posting in English:
(17-20) 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.
M –These verses describe the high privilege the Jew had. They did have God’s law, a type of relationship with God, and even approved of what it said. They saw themselves as guides, a light, instructors, teachers…and they truly should have been that. They did have knowledge and truth in the law (the Old Testament.)
A –It is a privilege to be entrusted with the words of God. Having a bible is a great honor.
(21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
M –Paul questions the mindset some of the Jews had. They were entrusted with the truth to teach others, but were they applying the truth to their own lives?
A –Any privileged person having the truth of God and teaching it (including bible teachers) should ask themselves a similar question. Do we obey what we teach or are we hypocrites?
(21) You who preach that man should not steal, do you steal?
M –Paul’s first example is that of stealing. These people preached it was wrong, but did they obey it? The tone of writing suggests clearly no.
(22) You who say “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery?
M –Paul gives another example. Even if someone might answer ‘No’, based on the sermon of the mountain, Jesus said that when a man looks with lust on a woman he commits adultery in the heart.
(22) You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
M –Those who say they are against worshiping things other than God, do they worship greed by robbing temples? Paul said in Colossians 3:5 that greed is idolatry. They dishonor God to get money.
(23) You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
M –All of the previous questions here had an implied negative response…this last question carried an implied ‘Yes’ response. But the yes is confessing that while they boast in the law, they dishonor God because they break it.
A –There seems to be a parallel lesson here for those in the church. We may be excited about the truths of the bible and God, but do we actually do what God says? We will see as we go on that no one has done close to enough good to earn salvation.
(24) For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
M –There are several Old Testament passages this could be quoting (Ezek. 16:27 / 2 Sam. 12:14 / Is. 52:5) The idea is that while the nation of Israel should have been a light to the nations because they were given God’s law and followed it, they ended up giving the nations an excuse to mock God because they did receive His law, but weren’t willing to follow it.
A –Again, there seems to be a lesson for the church here. We are supposed to be the light of the world, but does the world dishonor God, because we, who actually have His commands aren’t even doing them?
(25) For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
M –Circumcision was something the Jews did, as a sign that they belonged to God and walked in purity. If they kept the law, the sign had value, but if they were breakers of the law (and all of us are) then they really weren’t clean, like the circumcision was supposed to represent.
(26) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
M-If a man didn’t have the physical sign of circumcision, but did what those with the circumcision were supposed to be doing, wouldn’t he be in reality more clean then them?
A-When I (Isaac) was a boy, we had a sign on our dishwasher indicating whether the dishes were clean or dirty. Obviously, if the sign said the dishes were clean, but they were dirty, the sign had no value. This is the Paul’s trying to make with the Jews. Also, it could be said that someone carries the label of a Christian, but inside are really not a Christian…the label is no good then.
(27) And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
M –Paul points out to the Jews, that if an uncircumcised (non-Jewish) person actually fulfilled the law (which non of them could do perfectly either), they would prove the Jews wrong.
(28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
M –Paul says a powerful statement. That being called a Jew outwardly was not what made someone valid…real circumcision wasn’t just in the physical.
(29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
M –Having an outward sign, might have gotten praise from men, but the person God would praise is the one who would actually have a clean heart. Paul mentions a clean heart is from the Spirit, not the letter (the law.)
A –In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus will tell his followers not to pray publicly for men’s praise, but in solitude with God. He will also say they shouldn’t give money to people for the praise of men or fast for the praise of men. People may think we’re a great person, but God knows the heart.
I & K
