Romans 2:13

(For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

(For {G1063} not {G3756} the hearers {G202} of the law {G3551} are just {G1342} before {G3844} God {G2316}, but {G235} the doers {G4163} of the law {G3551} shall be justified {G1344}.

For it is not merely the hearers of Torah whom God considers righteous; rather, it is the doers of what Torah says who will be made righteous in God’s sight.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified;

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 2:13 (KJV)

This verse is a crucial part of Paul's argument in Romans, particularly concerning God's just judgment. It follows his discussion about judging others while committing the same sins and highlights the principle upon which God's judgment operates.

Context

In Romans chapter 2, Paul confronts the hypocrisy of those who judge others, particularly those who possess the Law (referring primarily to the Jews), while failing to live up to its standards themselves. He asserts that God's judgment is impartial and based on truth and deeds, not on mere possession of the Law or outward religious identity (see Romans 2:11). Verse 13 serves as a foundational statement supporting this point: merely knowing or hearing the Law is insufficient for righteousness before God.

Key Themes

  • Hearing vs. Doing: The central contrast is between those who simply hear or know the Law and those who actively obey it. God's standard is based on performance, not privilege or knowledge alone.
  • Divine Justification: The verse states that "the doers of the law shall be justified." To be "justified" means to be declared righteous or acquitted before God. This verse sets forth the *principle* of justification based on perfect obedience, a standard which Paul will later argue no one can meet (see Romans 3:20), thus demonstrating the need for justification by faith in Christ (see Romans 3:24).
  • God's Standard: It clarifies that God's judgment is not arbitrary but aligned with the requirement of obedience to His revealed will.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek words highlight the active nature of "doing." "Hearers" comes from akroatai (ἀκροαταὶ), meaning those who listen. "Doers" comes from poiētai (ποιηταὶ), meaning makers or performers. The word for "justified" is dikaiōthēsontai (δικαιωθήσονται), a future passive verb indicating they *shall be* declared righteous. The emphasis is on the active response required by God's law. This distinction between merely hearing and actively doing is echoed elsewhere in scripture, such as in James 1:22 regarding the word of God.

Reflection and Application

Romans 2:13 provides a stark reminder that genuine faith involves more than intellectual assent or religious affiliation. It requires active obedience stemming from a transformed heart. While Paul's broader argument in Romans shows that perfect obedience to the law is impossible for fallen humanity, making justification by grace through faith necessary, this verse still serves as a vital truth: God values heartfelt obedience. It challenges us to examine whether our knowledge of God's commands translates into how we live our lives daily. It underscores the seriousness of God's standard and points us toward the perfect obedience of Christ, which is credited to believers by faith.

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Cross-References

  • James 1:22 (22 votes)

    But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

  • James 1:25 (22 votes)

    But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

  • 1 John 3:7 (12 votes)

    Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

  • James 2:21 (12 votes)

    Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

  • James 2:25 (12 votes)

    Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?

  • Romans 2:25 (9 votes)

    For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

  • Galatians 2:16 (8 votes)

    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.