Blind Fools

It is always one thing to talk about them and another to talk about me.  Earlier in his letter to the Roman Christians, the Apostle Paul wrote about the wrath of God being directed toward the ungodly and wicked who suppress the truth, who bring dishonor to the name of God, and who are not grateful to Him for His goodness.  (Romans 1:18, 22).  It is obvious to the Jewish members of the church community that Paul does not have them in mind for they do not perceive themselves guilty of the sinful indictment with which others have been charged.   

All of this changes as the second chapter begins.  In a manner reminiscent of the early words of Amos charging the nations around Judah with their sins, the stage is set.  With the onset of this next section Paul addresses himself to the Jews who are a part of the church as he writes. "Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself..."  (Romans 2:1)  The words and spirit of Jesus is, of course, all over these verses as we remember Him saying, "Do not judge,...first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye."  (Matthew 7:1-5)   

It is a strange thing that our neighbor's sin is always more apparent than our own.  What we are quick to see in someone else, we rarely see with such clarity in our own life.  In his letter to the Romans the Apostle jumps with both feet upon the self-righteous who see themselves better than their brothers and sisters simply because of the place to which they were born.  Though born as one of God's chosen, it was not a status which made them immune to the power of sin and to live otherwise made them live as blind fools.  As it was with them, so it is with us.