“And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” – Romans 2:3
This is an opening into the sobering door of the deceptive nature of self-righteousness. Paul moves from exposing the blatant sins of a broken world in chapter 1, to shining a spotlight on the more polished sins of the religious heart. The Jew says, “I’m chosen, I’m fine.” The Stoic says, “I’m moral, I’m good.” But both, Paul says, are practicing the very things they condemn in others. It’s not the outward actions that separate us from judgment—it’s the inward condition of the heart. Like peeling wallpaper in an old house, the surface might look intact, but beneath is decay. In Malachi’s day, the people argued with God, blind to their broken worship, shallow sacrifices, and calloused hearts. They thought they were still reverent—God said otherwise.
We often think we’re “not that bad,” pointing to our good deeds or lack of scandal, but Jesus in Matthew 5 dismantled that illusion. He said anger is as deadly as murder, and lust as corrupt as adultery. It’s not enough to avoid sin outwardly; what about the storms brewing quietly inside? The problem with unconscious hypocrisy is that it blinds us to our need for a Savior. We use faulty measuring sticks—comparing ourselves to worse sinners or tallying good deeds. But Paul reminds us: God’s judgment is according to truth, not appearances.
So what’s the remedy? The Word of God! Let the Word of God become a mirror—not to reflect others’ failures, but to expose your own. Ask: “Am I trusting in my upbringing, my behavior, or my reputation? Or am I clinging to grace through faith in Jesus?” Ephesians 2:8 says salvation isn’t earned—it’s received. If you haven’t been born again, let today be the moment. And if you have, don’t stop at justification. Let grace carry you into deeper humility, honesty, and holiness. God doesn’t judge by what we pretend to be—He sees who we truly are. Surrender that person to Him.
surrendered devotions 