Romans Chapter 2 Vs. 4

God's Righteous Judgment 

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Rom 2:4


Or despisest thou... Do you Jews despise the good dealings of God and the superior advantages you have had, not knowing that they were designed to lead you to repentance?

riches of his... Rom. 9:23; 11:33; Eph. 1:7, 1:18; 2:7; 3:8, 3:16; Phlp. 4:19; Col. 1:27; 2:2.

leadeth thee to... Three things lead to repentance:

Goodness... Greek: chrestotes, the virtue and beneficence of God whereby He leads sinners to repentance (Rom. 2:4; cp. 5:6-8).

Forbearance... Greek: anoche, the self-restraint of God whereby He tolerates sinners and permits them to live to be saved (Rom. 2:4; 3:25; cp. Neh. 9:30).

Longsuffering... Greek: makrothumia, the leniency and patience of God whereby God’s mercy and goodness are extended to people to bring them to eternal reconciliation to Himself (Rom. 2:4; 1Pet. 3:20; 2Pet. 3:15).

repentance... See Mat. 4:17 and Luke 13:3.

By not exacting His divine penalty on sinful humanity immediately, God is displaying the riches of His kindness (chrēstotētos, “benevolence in action,” also used of God in Rom. 11:22; Eph. 2:7; Tit. 3:4), tolerance, and patience (cf. Acts 14:16; 17:30; Rom. 3:25). God’s purpose is to lead people toward repentance — a return to Him — through His kindness. (This word for “kindness” is chrēstos, a synonym of chrēstotētos, also trans. “kindness,” used earlier in the verse.) Both words mean “what is suitable or fitting to a need.” Chrēstos is used of God in Luke 6:35 and 1Pet. 2:3 and of people in Eph. 4:32. “Despisest”: Meaning to despise or to think down on, thus to underestimate someone’s or something’s value, and even to treat with contempt. 

“Goodness”: This refers to “common grace,” the benefits God bestows on all men.

“Forbearance”: This word, which means “to hold back,” was sometimes used of a truce between warring parties. Rather than destroying every person the moment he or she sins, God graciously holds back His judgment. He saves sinners in a physical and temporal way from what they deserve, to show them His saving character that they might come to Him and receive salvation that is spiritual and eternal.

“Longsuffering:” This word indicates the duration for which God demonstrates His goodness and forbearance, for long periods of time.

Together these three words speak of God’s common grace, the way He demonstrates His grace to all mankind.

“Repentance”: The act of turning from sin to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

Not realizing (lit., “being ignorant of”) God’s purpose, people showed contempt for (kataphroneis, “you thought down on”) God’s attributes and actions (cf. “suppress the truth,” Rom. 1:18). People knew of God’s Being through natural revelation (Rom. 1:19-21, 1:28), but did not know the purpose of His kindness.