Romans 2:13 “Deluded Hearers”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹³for [it is] not the ones hearing of law [who are] righteous ones before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. 

This passage reminds us of the danger of being “hearers of the Word” and not “doers.” It is apparently a huge temptation for human beings to be “satisfied” that they have heard the Word, that they “know” the Word, that they personally own several copies of the Word, that they sing about it, talk about it, revere it  -- all without ever pausing to ask the question, “Yes, but do I do it?”

Before we get too far with these thoughts, we need to remember where we are in the Bible. We are in Romans 2. We are in a passage where the Lord wants every human being to see that without Christ they are lost and hopeless. If all we read was just this one verse, we might think we really can be “doers of the Word” and thus declared righteous. In this larger context of Romans 1-3, that would be an absurd conclusion, “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God.” No, in these verses the Lord is trying to shatter the delusions of the moral and religious lost. He must first destroy this idea that because they “know” the Word, they’re on their way to heaven.

As you and I would ponder our eternal destiny, He wants us to forget the “hearing” part and focus on the “doing.” Am I a “doer?” If, for even a second, I would pause to ponder that question, what must be my answer? No. In the same moment I consider it’s not enough to be a hearer, I also am convicted I am not a doer. Not only that, but in my heart of hearts, I know I never will be. If the standard of earning heaven – being declared righteous – is to be a successful doer, then I am lost and I know it.

Precisely where the Lord wants you and me to be. That is Paul’s point. That is where Romans 1-3 is trying to carry the human race. Strip away all the delusions and the plain simple fact is that I do not and cannot carry out God’s Law. I need a Savior. Ah, yes. Later on he will tell us, “But now, a righteousness of God apart from the Law has been declared…” As we would read this one verse in chapter 2, we need to remember its context and the message of the rest of the Bible – the Law only is and only ever was a “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ.

But first, God has to expose our delusion that somehow being hearers of the Word can save us.

There are two major passages in the Bible that address this problem head on:

Matthew 7:24-27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

James 1:22-25: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

In my mind, this problem of hearers/doers is, in Romans 2, primarily a problem for unbelievers. As discussed above, it is a problem that keeps them deluded and lulled to sleep spiritually. Basically the Law cannot convict them of sin if, having heard it, they are quite sure they no longer need to give it any thought. Hopefully, for some, if even for a minute, they would let the Holy Spirit challenge their “doing,” they would immediately realize they fall short.

Of course, the challenges in Matthew and James are addressed to believers. Even having been born again, apparently our flesh would still use the same old ruse to lull us to sleep and keep us from growing and being fruitful for the Lord. I would guess in our case, just to stop and ponder it for a second is convicting because we are all too aware we fall short. The very root of our faith is the realization we need a Savior and thankfully have found Him! I don’t think this is something we need to “beat ourselves up” over, but rather a call to prayer and humility before God. “Lord, search me and know my heart…and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the Way everlasting!” If the Lord shows us something we need to change we need to prayerfully get after it. If nothing particularly comes to mind, we can stay confident in the ocean of His love.