Here, Paul cautions against hypocrisy. He begins addressing Jews who boast of knowing God. They are the ones who know His will, guide the blind, light the world, and teach the ignorant. They are outwardly circumcised and think that act makes them more holy. Paul says that they teach others, but they refuse to teach themselves. It is a foolish man who would ignore instruction! These foolish people say with their mouths that men should keep the law, but they themselves miss out on the whole intent of the law. They make an outward spectacle of following God (circumcision) without the inward devotion of their hearts to God. Because of this, they teach not to steal, but they themselves are guilty. They teach not to worship idols, but they are guilty of sacrilege.
Then Paul references the uncircumcised. People who had not been partakers of this outward spectacle of "faith" but kept the "righteousness of the law" (27) were deemed just as worthy as, if not more than, the one who had undergone the outward spectacle. But what is the "righteousness of the law"? The Jews were faithful to keep the law to the "letter." They, though, missed the whole purpose of the law.
The law was not created so that men could "boast" about how well they could keep it. It was not meant to be an external path to God's glory! The law shows us how destitute we really are. the "righteousness of the law" does not depend on our keeping the letter of the law. The righteousness of the law IS Jesus. Jesus came to fulfill the law. When we trust in Him and "circumcise" our HEARTS before our HANDS, then we have found that righteousness of the law. Only then can we take steps to rid ourselves of the hypocrisy of an outward showing of holiness. Let our praise not be "of men, but of God" (29).
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