2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law. The first part of this verse is a summary of the claims of the Jews as given in Ro 2:17-20.
Through breaking the law dishonourest God? The last part is a decisive answer, in an interrogative form, of the four reproachful questions just asked (Ro 2:21,22). Through the whole passage privilege and practice are contrasted.
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.
