Breaking the law (Rom 2:23)


You boast in the law!

Do you dishonor God

By breaking the law?”

ὃς ἐν νόμῳ καυχᾶσαι, διὰ τῆς παραβάσεως τοῦ νόμου τὸν Θεὸν ἀτιμάζεις;

Paul continued with his comments to the Jews that they who boast (καυχᾶσαι) in the law (ὃς ἐν νόμῳ), did they dishonor God (τὸν Θεὸν ἀτιμάζεις) by breaking (διὰ τῆς παραβάσεως) the law (τοῦ νόμου)?  Only the Pauline letters used these words καυχᾶσαι, that means to boast, or glory in, or exult proudly, and the word παραβάσεως, that means a going aside, a transgression, or deviation.  Finally, Paul called into question whether the Jewish people who boasted about their Mosaic Law actually followed it.  By breaking or deviating from the law, they were dishonoring God.  Have you ever broken the law of God?

Hurtful sins (Sir 21:1-21:3)

Have you sinned?

My child!

Do so no more!

Ask forgiveness

For your past sins!

Flee from sin

As from a snake!

If you approach sin,

It will bite you.

Its teeth are lion’s teeth.

They can destroy human lives.

All lawlessness is

Like a two-edged sword.

There is no healing

For the wounds it inflicts.”

Sirach uses his parental tone in reminding others about the sting of sin. If you have sinned, stop! Ask forgiveness! You should run away from sin like you would run away from a snake. Do not go near to sin or it will bite you like a snake. Sin has lion’s teeth that can destroy people. Breaking the law is like a sharp two edged sword because there is no healing the wounds that it inflicts. Stay away from sin or you will get hurt.