Romans 2:17-24 - Daily Devotion - 12 June 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Tina Bogg

As I read this passage, the challenge of not being a hypocrite really strikes home, especially as the last verse talks about how God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles when we know God’s will and his laws and do not do them. Paul is talking to Jews who thought they were better than Gentiles because they had God’s laws. But they were making two mistakes. They had forgotten that what matters is not knowing God’s laws, but obeying them. And they thought they deserved God’s favour and love, unlike Gentile “sinners”.

As Christians, we can be in danger of making the same mistakes. We might feel we are better than non-Christians because we have the gospel, and forget that the gospel should lead us to obedience. Are we dishonouring God by not practicing grace, mercy, forgiveness and loving others as Jesus has loved us? But also, the gospel shows us that we are not better or more deserving than non-Christians, it is only through God’s mercy that we are saved and through his grace and love for us that we are chosen to be a part of his kingdom. We bring nothing to the table, therefore we have nothing to boast about. In fact, we should be more sensitive to our own sin than to the sin of others.

One area I find so tricky to not be a hypocrite is in parenting; yelling at my kids to not yell, telling them to listen when I am not listening to them, asking them to be patient when I’m impatiently rushing them, or encouraging them to apologise and forgive when I also feel pride flaring up and not wanting to admit what I have done wrong. Pray with me that we would have God’s wisdom and humility in seeing where we fall short and continue to ask for his forgiveness, and pray that we can set an example for others of knowing where we stand before God and how much we need and are thankful for his grace every day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.