Romans 2:25

Circumcision. The Jews attached great importance to the rite of circumcision, as though the mere outward ceremony guaranteed special divine favor. God instituted this rite as a sign of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 17:9-14; Acts 7:8). As a mark and reminder of this relationship, circumcision could have been a blessing to the Jews. But since they had so largely failed to live up to the essential requirements of the covenant, circumcision had become nothing more than an empty form.

The law. There is no article in the Greek (see on v. 12); therefore the clause “if thou keep the law” is perhaps the equivalent of “if thou art a lawkeeper.” The law-keeper is contrasted with the lawbreaker of the next clause. The Greek places emphasis upon the habitual practice of obedience. Sincere willingness to obey God’s law was always the condition on which God agreed to fulfill His gracious promises to the Jews (Ex. 19:5, 6; Deut. 26:16-19; Jer. 4:4).

A breaker of the law. Or, “a lawbreaker.” “Law,” here, has no article in the Greek (see on v. 12). “Breaker” comes from an old Greek word parabates, meaning “one who passes over a line,” hence, a “transgressor” as the word is translated in Gal. 2:18; James 2:11; etc. There are many different Greek words in the NT to express the various aspects of sin. Parabates implies one who transgresses a commandment distinctly given.

Is made. Literally, “has become.”