possessed and, in his pre-converted, pharisaical state, counted them his gain (Philippians 3:4-9). The Jew pos sessed them all. Paul is leading to his next line of truth, namely, the difference between knowing the Law and obeying it. Great is the advantage of having such privileges as those if the heart of the Jew corresponds in reality to them. This brings us to the all-important question, Did the Jew practice what he believed and taught? II. THE PROFESSION OF THE JEW {2:21-24) With unerring sharpness and preciseness the Apostle probes deep into the spiritual condition of the Jew. He proceeds to ask five questions, the answers to which make up the formal charge that these highly privileged people did not practice what they professed. The Jew had the truth and the ability to preach it to others, but he himself did not obey it, thereby exposing himself to the judgment of God. When Paul says, "Behold, thou art called a few", he is implying that one could be called a Jew but who, in practice, was not a Jew. This was exactly the case with many of them. While the sins of the Gentiles were open before the eyes of all, the Jew sinned under his cloak of religion. He leaned strongly on his privileges but he did not obey what he had been taught. If a man calls himself a Jew, and has the Law, he should behave in accordance to that Law. Paul's first question: "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself!" (2:21). Iri substance this is a formal charge that these highly privileged people were not practicing those things they professed and preached. The claims of the Jew in verses 17-20 were valid, but they increased his responsibility not to leave himself untaught. When our Lord instructed the multitude concern ing the Scribes and Pharisees who sit in Moses' seat, He said, "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works: for they say, and do not" (Matthew 23:1-3). When the Jew taught, he did it with the authority of God whose Word he proclaimed. But while he was a spokesman for God he was guilty of commit ting the same sins he condemned. What our Lord said to the multitudes was a terrible indictment against some Jewish 70
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