Romans 2:10-16: a reflection

10But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God. 12For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified 14(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.

As Paul writes about God's judgment, he draws a distinction that cuts through all mere religious profession: It isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. Merely hearing God's word, knowing it, agreeing with it, is not enough; it is the doing of it that counts before God. One can hear the law, know it well, even approve it, and yet not be a doer of it; and Paul says it is the doer, not the mere hearer, who is right before God. What matters is not only hearing and knowing God's word, but actually doing it; the hearing that does not lead to doing falls short.

Notice the distinction Paul draws: not the hearers but the doers of the law. It is possible to be a hearer of God's word without being a doer of it, to know it, agree with it, sit under it, and yet not do it. But Paul says it is not the hearing that justifies, but the doing; the mere hearer, however knowledgeable, is not thereby righteous, but the doer. God's word is given not merely to be heard and known, but to be done; and the hearing that does not issue in doing falls short of what God requires. To hear without doing is to fall short; what counts is being a doer, not merely a hearer, of what God has said.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to be doers of God's word, not merely hearers. We can be hearers of God's word, knowing it, agreeing with it, sitting under it, and yet not doers of it, not actually living out what we hear; but Paul says it is the doers, not the mere hearers, who are right before God. Merely hearing and knowing is not enough; God's word is to be done. Do not be merely a hearer of God's word, content to know and agree with it while not doing it; be a doer, living out what you hear. Be a doer of God's word, not merely a hearer, actually living out what you hear and know rather than being content merely to hear and agree, as Paul says it is not the hearers but the doers of the law who will be justified; for God's word is given to be done, and the hearing that does not lead to doing falls short of what God requires.

Lord, as Paul writes about your judgment, he draws a distinction that cuts through all mere religious profession: it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. Merely hearing your word, knowing it, agreeing with it, is not enough; it is the doing of it that counts before you. One can hear the law, know it well, even approve it, and yet not be a doer of it; and Paul says it is the doer, not the mere hearer, who is right before you. Show me the distinction Paul draws: not the hearers but the doers of the law. It is possible to be a hearer of your word without being a doer of it, to know it, agree with it, sit under it, and yet not do it. But Paul says it is not the hearing that justifies, but the doing; the mere hearer, however knowledgeable, is not thereby righteous, but the doer. Your word is given not merely to be heard and known, but to be done; and the hearing that does not issue in doing falls short. Take that to my heart, for I am called to be a doer of your word, not merely a hearer. I can be a hearer of your word, knowing it, agreeing with it, sitting under it, and yet not a doer of it, not actually living out what I hear; but Paul says it is the doers who are right before you. Merely hearing and knowing is not enough. Keep me from being merely a hearer of your word, content to know and agree with it while not doing it; help me be a doer, Lord, living out what I hear, as Paul says it is not the hearers but the doers of the law who will be justified.