¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Therefore {G1352} thou art {G1488} inexcusable {G379}, O {G5599} man {G444}, whosoever {G3956} thou art that judgest {G2919}: for {G1063} wherein {G1722}{G3739} thou judgest {G2919} another {G2087}, thou condemnest {G2632} thyself {G4572}; for {G1063} thou that judgest {G2919} doest {G4238} the same things {G846}.
Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, passing judgment; for when you judge someone else, you are passing judgment against yourself; since you who are judging do the same things he does.
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.
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Luke 6:37
¶ Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: -
Romans 2:3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? -
John 8:7
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. -
John 8:9
And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. -
Romans 2:21
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? -
Romans 2:23
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? -
Matthew 7:1
¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged.
This verse, Romans 2:1 in the King James Version, is a powerful statement from the Apostle Paul addressing the issue of judgment and hypocrisy. It immediately follows his detailed description in Romans 1 of the sinfulness of humanity, particularly those who have rejected God.
Context
In Romans chapter 1, Paul lays out the case against those who suppress the truth of God and engage in various forms of wickedness. In Romans 2, he turns his attention to a different group – likely those, perhaps religious Jews or morally upright Gentiles, who would read chapter 1 and feel superior, judging those described. Paul confronts this judgmental attitude head-on, showing that simply condemning others does not exempt one from God's judgment.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The key word "inexcusable" translates the Greek word anapologētos (ἀναπολόγητος). It means "without excuse," "defenseless," or "having nothing to say in one's own defense." By judging another, the person proves they know the standard of righteousness, thus removing any possible excuse for their own failure to meet that standard.
Commentary and Application
Paul directly addresses "O man, whosoever thou art that judgest." This isn't just about harsh criticism; it's about adopting a posture of moral superiority while being guilty of similar faults. The act of judging demonstrates that the person knows the moral law or standard by which they are judging. Therefore, when they commit the same actions, they are acting against their own acknowledged standard, making their sin profoundly hypocritical and removing any grounds for an excuse before God. Jesus taught a similar principle in Matthew 7:1-5, warning against focusing on the speck in another's eye while a log is in one's own.
This verse calls us to self-examination. Before we are quick to point out the flaws and sins of others, we must look inward. If we are guilty of the same things, our judgment is not only hypocritical but also serves as a verdict against ourselves. It underscores the reality that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and our hope lies not in our ability to judge others, but in God's mercy through Christ. This doesn't mean we never discern right from wrong, but it cautions against self-righteous condemnation from a position of shared guilt.
Reflection
Romans 2:1 challenges us to humility. It reminds us that our primary focus should be on our own walk with God and acknowledging our need for grace, rather than focusing on the failures of others. True spiritual maturity involves recognizing our own sinfulness and extending the same mercy we have received.