Romans 2:13

“For not the hearers of the law are just before God, etc..] The apostle here shows, that the Jews were justly condemned, notwithstanding their having and hearing of the law; since hearing without doing it, will never denominate persons righteous in the sight of God, however it might recommend them in the sight of men: regard seems to be had either to the first delivery of the law by Moses to the people of Israel, when he read it to them, and they hearkened to it, and promised obedience; or rather to the reading and hearing it every sabbath day; and may include a speculative knowledge of it, without a practical obedience to it; and which therefore must fall greatly short of entitling them to a…”

“For not the hearers, &c.--As touching the Jews, in whose ears the written law is continually resounding, the condemnation of as many of them as are found sinners at the last involves no difficulty; but even as respects the heathen, who are strangers to the law in its positive and written form--since they show how deeply it is engraven on their moral nature, which witnesses within them for righteousness and against iniquity, accusing or condemning them according as they violate or obey its stern dictates--their condemnation also for all the sin in which they live and die will carry its dreadful echo in their own breasts.”

“For not the hearers ... - The same sentiment is implied in James 1:22; Matthew 7:21, Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:47. The apostle here doubtless designed to meet an objection of the Jews; to wit, that they had the Law, that they manifested great deference for it, that they heard it read with attention, and professed a willingness to yield themselves to it. To meet this, he states a very plain and obvious principle, that this was insufficient to justify them before God, unless they rendered actual obedience. Are just - Are justified before God, or are personally holy. Or, in other words, simply hearing the Law is not meeting all its requirements, and making people holy. If they expected to be saved…”

“For not the hearers of the law are, even now, just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified - Finally acquitted and rewarded a most sure and important truth, which respects the gentiles also, though principally the Jews. St. Paul speaks of the former, Rom 2:14, &c.; of the latter, Rom 2:17, &c. Here is therefore no parenthesis; for Rom 2:16 also depends on Rom 2:15, not on Rom 2:12. Romans 2:14”

“2:13 obeying the law . . . makes us right in his sight: Regarding the promise of righteousness through obedience, see 2:7; see also Jas 1:22.”

“For not: Rom 2:25; Deu 4:1, Deu 5:1, Deu 6:3, Deu 30:12-14; Eze 20:11, Eze 33:30-33; Mat 7:21-27; Luk 8:21; Jam 1:22-25; Jo1 2:29, Jo1 3:7 but the: Rom 3:20, Rom 3:23, Rom 10:5; Luk 10:25-29; Gal 3:11, Gal 3:12 justified: Rom 3:30, Rom 4:2-5; Psa 143:2; Luk 18:14; Act 13:39; Gal 2:16, Gal 5:4; Jam 2:21-25 Romans 2:14”