17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
17 If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation,
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
28 Don't you see: It's not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew.
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.
(Read Romans 2:25-29)
No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 2:17
Commentary on Romans 2:17-24
(Read Romans 2:17-24)
The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion, by their not living according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.