Romans 2:24

Is blasphemed. Or, “is spoken profanely of,” “is abused.” The Gentiles judged the religion of the Jews by the inconsistent lives of its devotees and thus were led to blaspheme the God and Author of the religion. The Jews boasted of the law, but because of their disobedience, reflected disgrace on the Lawgiver. The evil conduct and hypocrisy of the Jews caused the Gentiles to despise a religion that seemed to have no effect in purifying and restraining those who professed to follow it. The Jews were so jealous of the name of God that they would not even pronounce their most sacred name for God (see Vol. I, pp. 171, 172). Yet they lived in such a manner that the Gentiles were led to blaspheme His name.

It is written. The reference is probably to Isa. 52:5, though Paul may also have had 2 Sam. 12:14; Eze. 36:21-24 in mind. Paul applies the passage in a new sense. Isaiah was speaking of the contempt in which God’s name was held by the enemies because Israel had been allowed to fall into their hands. Paul is saying that the cause of the dishonor is the inconsistent life of the Jews themselves.