Romans Chapter 2 Vs. 5

Condemnation According to Divine Standards

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; Rom 2:5

hardness... Caused by a long course of rebellion.

and impenitent heart... Caused by the hardness of heart.

treasurest up... Greek: thesaurizo, increase or store up (Rom. 2:5; Mat. 6:19-20; Luke 12:21; 1Cor. 16:2; 2Cor. 12:14; Jas. 5:3; 2Pet. 3:7). Here it is storing up things that will call for the wrath of God. The treasure of wrath is varied to the extent one rejects the goodness of God and punishment will be according to its contents (Rom. 2:6; Mat. 11:22-24; 23:14; Rev. 20:11-15).

day of wrath... Final Judgment

Paul no doubt refers here to the final judgment when all rebels will receive full retribution for their sins (Rev. 20:11-15; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16). It is called "the wrath to come" (Mat. 3:7; 1Thes. 1:10). All rebels are "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3; 5:6). Many days of wrath have come upon people locally and in this life because of rebellion (Num. 11:33; 16:46; Deut. 9:7-8; Luke 21:23; 1Thes. 2:16; etc.). One more great day of wrath is coming upon people on earth (Rev. 6:16-17; 14:19; 15:1, 15:7; 16:1, 16:19; 18:3; 19:15), but the great day of wrath is that of the final judgment and eternal hell (Rev. 14:9-11; 20:11-15; 21:8).

Impartiality

Why are people ignorant of God’s intention to be kind? (Rom. 2:4) And why do they despise it? It is because of their stubbornness (lit., “hardness”; sklērotēta, whence the Eng. “sclerosis”) and their unrepentant heart(s). So God’s wrath against people’s sins is being stored up like a great reservoir until the day when it will all be poured forth in His righteous judgment. On that day God will give to each person according to what He has done (quotation of Psm. 62:12 and Pro. 24:12). God’s judging will be based on the standard of truth (Rom. 2:2) and it will be impartial (Rom. 2:11).


The English word “sclerosis” (as in arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries) comes from the Greek word. But here the danger is not physical, but spiritual hardness.

“Impenitent heart”: A refusal to repent and accept God’s pardon of sin through Jesus and cling to one’s sin is to accumulate more of God’s wrath and earn a severer judgment.

“Day of wrath … judgment”: Refers to the final judgment of wicked men that comes at the Great White Throne at the end of the Millennium. Although Scripture everywhere teaches that salvation is not on the basis of works, it consistently teaches that God’s judgment is always on the basis of a man’s deeds.