The Advantages of the Jews
R. Haldane. Romans 2:17-29 Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God,… consisted in their — I. BEARING THE NAME OF JEW, which embraces three significations — confession, praise, and thanksgiving, by which that people was distinguished from all other nations. The Jew alone had been chosen as the confessor of God, while all the rest of the world abjured His service; he alone was appointed to celebrate His praises, while by others He was blasphemed; he alone was appointed to render thanksgiving to God for multiplied benefits received, while others were passed by. II. HAVING RECEIVED THE LAW. They had no occasion to study any other wisdom or philosophy (Deuteronomy 4:6). In this they "rested." 1. Labour was spared them of employing many years and great endeavours, and travelling to distant countries, as was the case with other nations in acquiring knowledge and certain rules of direction. 2. They had an entire confidence in the law as a heavenly and Divine rule which could not mislead them, while the Gentiles could have no reliance on their deceitful philosophy. III. HAVING THE TRUE GOD AS THEIR GOD, while the Gentiles having only false gods were "without God in the world." They had, therefore, great reason to glory in Him, and on this account David said, that in God was his strength and his refuge (Psalm 18; Psalm 62:7, 144). IV. KNOWING HIS WILL, and that not by a confused knowledge, such as the Gentiles had by the revelation of nature, but a distinct knowledge by the revelation of the word, which the Gentiles did not possess (Psalm 147:19, 20). V. DISCERNING WHAT IS EVIL. They knew the will of God, and consequently what was contrary to it, i.e., what He condemns. VI. THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH AND GUIDE OTHERS. The law not only instructed the Jews for themselves, but also for others, and in this they held that they enjoyed a great superiority over the other nations, who are here called blind, for with all the lights of their philosophy, laws, and arts, being without true religion, they had no true saving light. (R. Haldane.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, WEB: Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,