No one is righteous

Shutting the Mouths of the Self-Righteous (Romans 3:9-20)





What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE HAVE THEY NOT KNOWN.” “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Preview

Paul declares in Romans 1:18-32 God’s condemnation of all mankind. This condemnation is based upon man’s rejection of God’s self-revelation through creation. Enthusiastically, the self-righteous Jews accept Paul’s words as an indictment of the Gentiles, failing to recognize they too are condemned. In chapter 2 Paul pointedly turns to the Jews, condemning them on the basis of their hypocrisy. They neither live in accordance with the standard by which they judge others guilty nor in accordance with what they teach. Paul presses on in chapter 3 to show the sinfulness of these self-righteous Jews as they justify their own sin, while questioning God’s justice for judging them. In this concluding section of Romans 3:9-20, Paul seeks to silence once and for all the self-righteous Jews. He does this by proving from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin and worthy of divine judgment. Comparing themselves with others is certainly no basis for their own justification. He reminds the Jews of the function of the Law in their lives: the Law was not given to make them righteous; it was given to show them their unrighteousness.

Read more here: bible.org/seriespage/5-shutting-mouths-self-righteous-romans-39-20