Zeal Without Truth

“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” – Romans 10:2-3

In Romans 10:2, Paul says, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” This is a striking statement. Paul isn’t mocking his fellow Jews—he’s acknowledging their passion, their devotion, their sincerity. But he’s also pointing out a dangerous flaw: zeal without truth. It’s possible to be deeply committed to religious activity and still miss the heart of God. Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 2:6–8, describing Jesus as the cornerstone—precious to those who believe, but a stumbling stone to those who reject Him. The Jews had the Scriptures, the promises, and the history, yet they stumbled over the very Savior they were waiting for. Paul understood this firsthand. Before his conversion, he was zealous for God—but that zeal led him to persecute the church (Acts 26:10–11). His transformation shows us that zeal must be surrendered to truth.

The Zealots of Jesus’ day were a vivid example of this. They were passionate defenders of Jewish law and fiercely opposed Roman rule. One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon the Zealot, likely came from this group. Their devotion was intense, but it lacked the knowledge of God’s true plan. Eventually, their fanaticism led to destruction—the fall of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jewish people. Today, we face a similar danger. We can be zealous for ministry, for tradition, for causes—even for morality—and still miss the truth of the gospel. We may fight battles God never asked us to fight, pursue callings He never gave, and cling to rituals that keep us from grace. Zeal is not enough. It must be anchored in truth. Otherwise, we risk building altars to our own righteousness and rejecting the righteousness of God.

Paul explains in Romans 10:3 that Israel’s rejection wasn’t due to ignorance of Scripture—it was a refusal to submit to God’s righteousness. They tried to establish their own through law-keeping and religious pride. But God’s standard is perfection, and no one can meet it. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). The law was never meant to save—it was meant to reveal our need for a Savior. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). When we truly understand God’s righteousness, we see our helplessness. And that helplessness leads us to Jesus. The gospel is not about earning—it’s about believing. Israel’s unbelief wasn’t a failure of God’s plan; it was a rejection of His grace. And Paul, with careful praise and deep compassion, reminds us that salvation has always been by faith. Let our zeal be shaped by truth, and our truth lead us to Christ.

“Zeal without knowledge is as useless as it is dangerous. The Jews were zealous for the law, but ignorant of the righteousness of God, and therefore they went about to establish their own righteousness. In doing so, they refused to submit to the only righteousness that can save.” – Charles Hodge