Romans 2:21
Romans 2:21 in Multiple Translations
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours?
So if you're busy teaching others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell people not to steal, but are you stealing?
Thou therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest, A man should not steale, doest thou steale?
Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?
You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest:
Since you claim that you have all these advantages because you are a Jew, ◄it is disgusting that you who teach other people that they should obey the laws God gave Moses do not obey the laws that you yourself teach!/why is it that you who teach other people that they should obey the laws God gave Moses do not obey the laws that you yourself teach?► [RHQ] You who preach that people should not steal things, it is disgusting that you yourself steal things! [RHQ]
Berean Amplified Bible — Romans 2:21
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Romans 2:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Romans 2:21
Study Notes — Romans 2:21
- Context
- Cross References
- Romans 2:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Romans 2:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 2:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Romans 2:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Romans 2:21
- Ellicott's Commentary on Romans 2:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Romans 2:21
- Cambridge Bible on Romans 2:21
- Barnes' Notes on Romans 2:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Romans 2:21
- Sermons on Romans 2:21
Context — The Jews and the Law
21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Corinthians 9:27 | No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. |
| 2 | Matthew 23:3–28 | So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred? So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. |
| 3 | Luke 12:47 | That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. |
| 4 | Micah 3:11 | Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” |
| 5 | Titus 2:1–7 | But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance. Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited. In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, |
| 6 | Luke 11:46 | “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load. |
| 7 | Psalms 50:16–21 | To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips? For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you. When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers. You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit. You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face. |
| 8 | Amos 8:4–6 | Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” |
| 9 | Luke 19:22 | His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? |
| 10 | Luke 4:23 | Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’” |
Romans 2:21 Summary
Romans 2:21 is a reminder to those of us who teach or preach to others to make sure we are following God's law in our own lives. It's easy to point out what others are doing wrong, but we need to look at ourselves first and make sure we are not guilty of the same things, as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:5. If we are teaching others about God's law, we need to be careful to obey it ourselves, so we don't end up being hypocrites. By examining our own hearts and actions, we can live more consistently with God's law and be better examples to those around us (see 1 Timothy 4:12).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main point of Romans 2:21?
The main point of Romans 2:21 is to challenge those who teach and preach to others to examine their own lives and ensure they are practicing what they preach, as seen in Matthew 23:3-4 where Jesus warns against hypocrisy.
Is Romans 2:21 saying that it's wrong to teach others about God's law?
No, Romans 2:21 is not saying it's wrong to teach others about God's law, but rather that those who do teach should be careful to obey the law themselves, as emphasized in James 3:1 where teachers are held to a higher standard.
How does this verse relate to the idea of being a 'hypocrite'?
This verse directly addresses the issue of hypocrisy, warning those who preach against certain sins, like stealing, to ensure they are not guilty of those same sins themselves, as Jesus teaches in Luke 6:42 to remove the plank from our own eye before trying to remove the speck from someone else's eye.
What is the consequence of not teaching ourselves as we teach others?
The consequence of not teaching ourselves as we teach others is that we risk dishonoring God and undermining our own message, as warned in Romans 2:23 where it says we dishonor God by breaking the law.
Reflection Questions
- In what areas of my life am I teaching or preaching to others, and am I practicing what I preach?
- How can I ensure that my actions align with the teachings of God's law, especially in areas where I am instructing others?
- What are some potential consequences in my own life and in the lives of those I am teaching if I do not practice what I preach?
- What steps can I take this week to examine my own heart and actions in light of Romans 2:21, and to make any necessary adjustments to live more consistently with God's law?
Gill's Exposition on Romans 2:21
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 2:21
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Romans 2:21
Trapp's Commentary on Romans 2:21
Ellicott's Commentary on Romans 2:21
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Romans 2:21
Cambridge Bible on Romans 2:21
Barnes' Notes on Romans 2:21
Whedon's Commentary on Romans 2:21
Sermons on Romans 2:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Are You Developing a Hard Heart by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the passage from Isaiah 6:9-10 where God sends Isaiah on a mission to a people who will not understand or perceive his message. The preacher |
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Zadok and Abaithar Priesthoods - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being a Bible preacher and encourages others to do the same. He highlights the power of using both the eye and ear to conv |
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Hatred for Sin by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the topic of hatred for sin. He shares a personal experience of feeling anger towards someone but then being convicted by God to listen and sh |
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The Preacher by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on his 31 years of ministry experience and shares about his own health breakdown due to overwork. He emphasizes the importance of understanding |
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Homily 5 on Romans by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the consequences of rejecting God and living in sin, emphasizing that God gives people over to a reprobate mind when they choose to ignore Him. He hi |
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Homily 6 1 John 3:19-4:3 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the importance of discerning the spirits and testing them to see if they are from God. He emphasizes the need to look beyond words and examine deeds, p |
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Painted Holiness by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of hypocrisy in the pursuit of holiness, using the Scribes and Pharisees as prime examples of those who outwardly appear righteous but are i |





