Tag: dishonour

Vessels

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Romans 9:19-24 Thou will say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

‘Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory in the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?’ Here the Jews argue again, as they did in Romans 3:7. Paul answers by questions (9:20-24). Who are you to reply against God? Who are you to blame God for your sinfulness? Cannot God deal with you as is necessary (Jer. 18:1-17)? If God still wants to save people who will obey Him, Jews or Gentiles, is that not His right? If He has to damn those who harden themselves may He not do so without our criticism?

‘Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction’ – vessels of wrath are Jews who were: stubborn (9:6); proud (9:31); rebellious (9:32); ignorant (10:3); jealous (10:19); angry (10:19); disobedient(10:21); blind (11:7); fallen (11:12); cast away (11:15); broken off (11:20); spared not (11:21); unbelieving (11:23); cut off (11:24).

‘The riches of his glory’- True riches that are mentioned in Scripture: Riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7); the riches of the glory of the inheritance in the saints (Eph. 1:18); the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8); the riches of glory (Eph. 3:16; Rom. 9:23); the riches of His goodness (Rom. 2:4); the riches of wisdom, knowledge (Rom. 11:33); the riches in glory (Php. 4:19); the riches of the glory of the mystery of Christ in you (Col. 1:27); the riches of the full assurance of understanding of God’s mystery (Col. 2:2); the reproach of Christ had greater riches than that what was in Egypt (Heb. 11:26).

‘Vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory’ – these are the Jew and Gentile converts to Christianity (9:23-24).

As It Is Written

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Romans 2:21-24 Thou therefore which teach another, teach thou not thyself? thou that preach a man should not steal, do thou steal? Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhor idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that make thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonour thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 

‘Thou therefore which teach another, teach thou not thyself? thou that preach a man should not steal, do thou steal? Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, do thou commit adultery? thou that abhor idols, do thou commit sacrilege? Thou that make thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonour thou God?’ People are quick to teach others, while they don’t heed their own advice; they preach to others not to steal, commit adultery or have idols, but sin in the same ways. They boast in how they serve God but don’t obey simple commandments as given throughout the Word.

‘Abhor’ [Greek: bdelusso] only here and in Revelation 21:8 where it is translated abominable. ‘Commit sacrilege’ [Greek: hierosuleo] rob temples; use consecrated things for self. It is also the same as robbing God in Malachi 3:10-12.

‘Through breaking the law dishonour thou God’ one cannot boast of the law, and at the same break it and bring reproach upon God by living in open contradiction to your own profession. In Biblical times the high priesthood itself was an office bought and sold like other commodities. The rapine of Eli’s sons was carried on many generations by priests (1Sam. 2:22; Matt. 23:1-39). Their adultery and polygamy were scandalous. They were guilty of theft, treachery, adultery, murder, and all the sins of Romans 1:18-32; 2:1-29; 3:10-18.

‘For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written’ Ezekiel 36:20, 23 describes how Israel profaned God’s name under the heathen nations instead of representing Him as was their purpose.