(Zeal Without Knowledge Rom. 10:1-3)

PART 2 – They had zeal but “not according to knowledge.”

They thought that zeal for God meant following all manner of tradition and ritual which God never commanded. Jesus said this about them: “…you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition…in vain [you] worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,” (Matt. 15:6,9).

In the time of Jesus, in the time of Paul and without any doubt in our age, there are those who sincerely think they are serving God, but they are acting (though with zeal) against the instructions of God. Paul said, in Acts 26:9, “I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Paul had zeal, but he wasn’t acting on correct knowledge.

So in Romans 10, Paul is talking about his countrymen who were lost. They had not obeyed the gospel, according to verse 16. They had zeal, but that emotion and passion was not based on, not directed by a knowledge of the truth of God, imparted in the gospel.

Paul does not deny their zeal. He exposes their ignorance: “for I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Now we have considered the context of this passage; the concern of the apostle, and the condition – their zeal without knowledge. Next we ought to think about . . . their condemnation.