“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
The full verse · Romans 2:4 · KJV
despisest the of ; not the of ?
Asked to
Self-Righteous Judger: the one Paul calls "O man," who condemns others for the sins of Romans 1 while doing the same things (Romans 2:1-3); later named as one "called a Jew" (Romans 2:17)
The Scene
Paul is still speaking to the person who judges others while doing the same things, having just asked whether he expects to escape God's judgment (Romans 2:1-3).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionPaul exposes why the judging person feels safe: God has not punished him yet. Instead of seeing God's patience as a call to turn, he treats it as permission. Barnes says "despisest" here does not mean open contempt, but that "they perverted and abused it; they did not make a proper use of it." Matthew Henry writes, "Low and mean thoughts of the divine goodness are at the bottom of a great deal of sin." The second half of the question presses what the person failed to see: God's kindness had a purpose, and that purpose was repentance.
The Response
What Scripture recordsPaul answers by showing where this path leads: "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5). The patience that could have led to repentance becomes, for a hard heart, time to store up wrath. Paul then sets out the two outcomes: "eternal life" for those who "by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory," and "indignation and wrath" for those who "obey unrighteousness" (Romans 2:7-8).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsPaul piles up three words for God's patience. "Goodness" is chrestotes, kindness. "Forbearance" is anoche, which Barnes describes as "his holding in or restraining his indignation." "Longsuffering" is makrothumia, which Barnes defines as "his slowness to anger." Barnes reads "the riches of his goodness" as a Hebrew way of saying "his rich goodness," that is, abundant goodness.
The verb "despisest" is kataphroneo, which Thayer's lexicon defines as "to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of." The ESV catches the sense with "presume on." Gill explains that God's goodness is despised "when men on account of it harden themselves in sin."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question reveals God's heart toward sinners. His delay in judgment is not weakness or indifference. It is kindness with a purpose: "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Barnes says such goodness "is suited to melt and soften the heart." Peter says the Lord "is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9), and through Ezekiel God asked, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" (Ezekiel 18:23). Barnes cites both passages here.
Yet patience can be misread. Solomon saw that "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 8:11), another verse Barnes cites. Romans 2:4-5 shows the same patience that is meant to lead to repentance becoming, for a hard and impenitent heart, time to store up wrath.
Look Closer
What did this person fail to understand about God's goodness?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Father, where have I mistaken Your patience with me for approval, and how is Your kindness calling me to turn?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Why do you think people often read God's patience as a sign that nothing needs to change?
- Tell about a time someone's kindness, more than their criticism, moved you to change.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
If God has been patient with you, that patience is a gift, not a loophole. His kindness is meant to draw you back to Him, not to make sin feel safe.
Repentance here is not a grim payment you make to earn God's favor. Paul says it is God's goodness that leads you there. You turn because you have seen how kind He is.
This doesn't mean God's patience can be put off forever. Paul warns that a hard and impenitent heart stores up wrath for "the day of wrath" (Romans 2:5). The time to respond to His kindness is while it is being shown.
Scripture's own application: 2 Peter 3:9, 15
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”
“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?”
“Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?”