God's Righteous Judgment

(Genesis 4:1-7; Jude 1:3-16)

1Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man—every one who is judging—for in that in which thou dost judge the other, thyself thou dost condemn, for the same things thou dost practise who art judging, 2and we have known that the judgment of God is according to truth, upon those practising such things. 3And dost thou think this, O man, who art judging those who such things are practising, and art doing them, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4or the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, dost thou despise?—not knowing that the goodness of God doth lead thee to reformation! 5but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou dost treasure up to thyself wrath, in a day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who shall render to each according to his works; 7to those, indeed, who in continuance of a good work, do seek glory, and honour, and incorruptibility—life age-during; 8and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9tribulation and distress, upon every soul of man that is working the evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek; 10and glory, and honour, and peace, to every one who is working the good, both to Jew first, and to Greek. 11For there is no acceptance of faces with God,

12for as many as without law did sin, without law also shall perish, and as many as did sin in law, through law shall be judged, 13for not the hearers of the law [are] righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be declared righteous:— 14For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law—to themselves are a law; 15who do shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending, 16in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, through Jesus Christ.

The Jews and the Law

17Lo, thou art named a Jew, and dost rest upon the law, and dost boast in God, 18and dost know the will, and dost approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the law, 19and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of blind ones, a light of those in darkness, 20an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach? 22thou who art preaching not to steal, dost thou steal? thou who art saying not to commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou who art abhorring the idols, dost thou rob temples? 23thou who in the law dost boast, through the transgression of the law God dost thou dishonour? 24for the name of God because of you is evil spoken of among the nations, according as it hath been written.

25For circumcision, indeed, doth profit, if law thou mayest practise, but if a transgressor of law thou mayest be, thy circumcision hath become uncircumcision. 26If, therefore the uncircumcision the righteousness of the law may keep, shall not his uncircumcision for circumcision be reckoned? 27and the uncircumcision, by nature, fulfilling the law, shall judge thee who, through letter and circumcision, [art] a transgressor of law. 28For he is not a Jew who is [so] outwardly, neither [is] circumcision that which is outward in flesh; 29but a Jew [is] he who is [so] inwardly, and circumcision [is] of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, of which the praise is not of men, but of God.