Title Teacher/Romans 2:17-24
Even today's text is saying that a pastor can never become a teaching teacher. In verse 20 we read, “If you believe in yourself that you are a teacher of fools and a teacher of children, then you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? Do you steal things?" These words are addressed to the Pharisees who consider themselves to be instructors and teachers who teach others, and guides on the path of the blind. But why do you say that you are a teacher and do not teach yourself what you are teaching?' To teach yourself also means that you must keep what you said. If I told you not to steal, then you, my teacher, should also not steal, and if I told you not to commit adultery, you shouldn't do it either. However, it is not a teacher who teaches not to steal after stealing, and teaches not to commit adultery while committing adultery. This is why no human being can be a teacher.
When I say this, you may be thinking, 'Then, can I become a teacher because I do not steal or commit adultery?' If so, I'll ask. Jesus said that lust in your heart is adultery. That is, how can someone who has already committed adultery in their heart teach others not to commit adultery? Also, Jesus doesn't just question whether he has stolen other people's things, he asks if he has greed by looking at other people's things.
Then, 'Is the teaching not to steal, not to commit adultery wrong? Humans cannot live according to the Word and cannot keep it, so if you see something wrong, do you mean to just pass by without saying anything?' However, the words in the text are not speaking in terms of whether or not to point out when others make mistakes, but in terms of who is in control of us now. It is not that humans rule over humans, but that we want to live in a world in which we live under the rule of God. In such a case, we can convey that God's Word is like this from the standpoint of being governed by people, not from the standpoint of teaching people's mistakes. That's why verse 1 says, "Therefore, you have no excuse, anyone who judges others, in judging others, because you are condemning yourself, for you who judge do the same thing."
God gave the law to bring man into the reign of God. He wanted a human being who gave up all human possibilities and power through the law and looked only at God's grace. However, when the law is given, humans try to conquer the law with their own strength and power. In other words, he went to the side of observing the law. And he did his best to show his righteousness by keeping the law. At the same time, he despised the faith of those who did not keep the law as it was not even faith.
The attack against these Jews by asking them not to steal while stealing is not to point out them, but to put us all together as sinners. This was Paul's intention. Paul was not in the dimension of who was good and who was wrong. Humans cannot judge and condemn human beings because all are sinners and evil sinners before God. Therefore, a church where there are good people and bad people is not a church. Because there are no sinners. Even though horses are sinners, there is a gap between them.
When talking about the law, a common saying is 'God knew that man was not perfect, and he gave the law. That is why God only demands that we do our best to live, not that He wants us to keep all the laws.' These are just the words of a man who has no heart for God at all. Clearly, God knew that human beings were sinners, evil, and nothing more than beings who could not fulfill God's requirements. But the problem is that humans don't realize this. They thought that they could survive in the world on their own, and they believed that they could live by doing good works. That is why He gave the law to reveal human incompetence, and humans set out to show it in action. But God says through the law that you are all ugly, so don't try to do it by your own strength, don't boast about your human goodness, don't compete with your goodness, and let everyone live as bad guys. This is the world God wants.
The law requires humans to shut up. It's about not showing off your good deeds. And it is to come before God knowing that you and I are nothing but ugly humans. This is what Paul is saying in today's text. Do not live under the rule of what you did or did not do, but live under the rule of the Lord. It should be a life that rejoices in the forgiveness of the Lord and glorifies only the Lord. The reason I feel anxious and impatient because I can't do it is because I can't see the Lord who has accomplished everything. Our job is not to be zealous for the church, but to live while looking at how the Lord works. Then you will realize that everything is done by the Lord, and that realization will lead you to joy.