They will be condemned by those they themselves regarded as being condemned. Here Paul finally returns to the statements in Romans 2:13–16: God does not show favouritism but accepts everyone who (whether under or outside the law) honours him. After his elaboration about the failures of the Jews, the apostle now proclaims this message directly and plainly. Circumcision has meaning only for those who observe the Torah because they fear God. Otherwise, they are worth no more to God than someone who is uncircumcised (Romans 2:25). But the reverse is also true: the uncircumcised person is regarded as circumcised if he keeps the intent of the law of God by honouring the Creator and seeks to do his will (Romans 2:26). Those who are in fact (ek phuseos
) uncircumcised and who fear the Creator as the law requires will actually judge those who are circumcised and have the law, but transgress the law because they do not fear God (Romans 2:27). We can compare this statement by Paul with what Jesus said about the queen of the South and the Ninevites, who shall rise in the judgment and condemn Israel (Matthew 12:41–42). The outward respect that many Jews are accorded in the world because they possess old books and a history that is worthy of respect is not the chief end of their people, rather their purpose is to seek God and to receive his praise.1
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.