Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 2:1

1. THerefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest ; For wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

q. d. Thou art without all excuse, that dost Assent and Subscribe to the righteous Judgment of God, that they who do such things, as are mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, are worthy of Death, and yet doest the same thy self: If not openly, yet secretly and inwardly, thou art Guilty of the same, or as great Sins. Thou canst make no Apology or Pretence, why the Sentence of Death and Condemnation, which is due to others, should not likewise pass upon thee.

i. e. In that very Thing, or by that very Law, whereby thou Censurest and Condemnest others, thou pronouncest Sentence against thy self; thy own Mouth Condemns thee in the Person of another, vid. Mat. 7.3. and 21.40, 41, 45. Iohn 8.4.9.

It is much Disputed, to whom the Apostle directs his Discourse in the beginning of this Chapter. Some think, that having discovered the Sins of the Gentiles in the former Chapter; he here useth a Transition, and turneth himself to the Iews, and lays open their more secret Wickedness and Hypocrisy. But the Particle [therefore] in the front of the Chapter, doth seem to intimate, Th[illegible: 2 letters] this is inferred from what went before, and is a continuance of the same Argument. It is of the Gentiles then that he is still Discoursing, and ver. 17. he begins by name to deal with the Iews. Some think, he speaks more particularly of such as were Judges and Magistrates amongst the Gentiles, who, though they made Laws to Judge and Punish others for such and such Crimes, did yet commit the same themselves. Some think he intends more especially, such as were Philosophers, and Men renowned for Vertue, as Socrates, Aristides, Fabritius, Cato, Senec[illegible: 1 letter], &c. which last, as is said, was well known to the Apostle. These, in their Speeches and Writings, did censure the Evil manners of others, and yet [illegible: 2 letters]ere as bad themselves. As Cato is said to have used Extortion, prostituted his Wife, and to have laid violent Hands upon himself; and yet he was affirm'd by Velleius, to be Homo virtuti simillimus, a most virtuous Man. But the received Opinion is, That the Apostle in general doth Tax all such as censure, and find Fault with others, and yet are Guilty o[illegible: 1 letter] the same things themselves.

Marginal references: Or, every one that judgest.; 1 Sam. 12.5.