Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4

Paul is addressing those who believe themselves righteous and look down on others for their sins. They think they are exempt from the condemnation described in Romans 1, because of their ethnic background, traditions or moral way of life. Yet, Paul speak the truth that no one is innocent before God. All are accountable for sin, and all stand in need of His mercy.

Many Christians today twist the Scriptures for their own gain, using the Word of God to justify selfish desires or to build their own image instead of glorifying Him. But this is not a new tactic. If we look back to Scripture, we see the very first one who twisted God’s Word was Satan himself. In the garden, he twisted what God said to ensnare Eve, and ever since, his strategy has been the same, distorting truth to bring confusion and separation from God. The reason many people fall for these deceptions is a lack of knowledge about the nature of God. When we don’t truly know who God is, we become vulnerable to lies that sound spiritual but are far from the truth. That’s why Scripture tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

As children of God, we are called not just to know His Word, but to reflect His character. The Scripture says, “Be imitators of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). Our lives show to the world who we belong to. The way we speak, the way we walk, the way we respond in love and truth, all of it declares our true identity.

When Paul says, do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Let’s break each one down carefully, like breaking bread, so that we can fully digest the Word of God. Just as Jesus said, “Eat My flesh,” His words remind us that The Word of God is not meant only to be read or heard, it must be received, chewed on, and allowed to nourish our spirit. The Word of God is food for the soul. When we meditate on it, we are feeding our inner being. Just as physical food gives strength to the body, the Word gives life and health to our entire being. If food is not eaten, it cannot nourish; in the same way, if God’s Word is not absorbed, it cannot transform us. 

The first word Paul mentions is goodness. In Greek, it is chrēstotēs, which means moral goodness, integrity, benignity, and kindness. Paul calls it “the riches of His goodness,” because God’s goodness is not poor or limited, it is overflowing and abundant. The goodness of God is not just about His righteousness; it is an expression of His great love that draws us closer to Him. God said to Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). His goodness is not just about doing good things, but about a love so faithful and steadfast that it reaches even those who turn away. His goodness gives rain to both the righteous and the wicked. It reveals a God whose mercy extends beyond what we deserve.

God’s goodness also shows in His foreknowledge and mercy. He knew that Adam would transgress, yet He still gave him the freedom to choose. He knew David would fall into adultery, yet He still called him a man after His own heart. He knew Samson would be overcome by pride and deceived by Delilah, yet He still anointed him with strength and purpose. God sees our failures long before they happen, yet He keeps giving grace and making a way back.

Even more, God knew that every one of us would fall short, deserving the penalty of sin and death. Yet in His rich goodness, He stepped down from His throne, took on human flesh as the Son of God, and died on the cross for our redemption. Then He rose again to bring us back to Himself. That is the true measure of His goodness, a love so great that it keeps reaching out even when we turn away. This is what Paul meant when he spoke of the riches of His goodness. God never stops making a way for us. Even when our hearts wander, His Spirit continues to tug, gently calling us back home. His goodness is not just something He does, it is who He is!. God love never fails, His mercy never runs dry, and His goodness calling us to return to Him.

The next word Paul uses is forbearance, which comes from the Greek word anochē. It means toleration, restraint, a holding back, or delaying. Forbearance is the act of refraining from taking action against someone, choosing mercy when justice could be enforced, withholding what is deserved in order to give room for grace.

This character of God has been retold throughout Scripture. From the very beginning, we see a God who patiently holds back judgment and extends mercy instead. In Genesis, when humanity became filled with wickedness and violence, God said He regretted creating man. Yet He did not bring judgment immediately. Instead, He waited many years, allowing Noah to preach righteousness and warn people before the flood came.

We see the same heart of forbearance in God’s dealings with Israel. Time after time, they turned away from Him to follow idols, yet He continued to send prophets to call them back. God spoke through Ezekiel revealing His heart, saying, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” His patience was not passive, it was an active expression of love, giving people opportunity after opportunity to repent.

Even Jonah was familiar with this nature of God, and it was the very thing that made him angry and caused him to run away. He wanted God to judge the Assyrians, not forgive them. When the Lord sent him to warn the people of Nineveh, Jonah resisted because he already knew the nature of God he served. He understood that if the people repented, God would show them mercy. After Nineveh turned from its wickedness and God withheld His judgment, Jonah said to the Lord, “I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” Jonah wasn’t surprised by God’s mercy, he expected it. He knew that God would rather forgive than destroy, that His compassion always makes room for repentance. Even though Jonah struggled to accept it, God’s heart remained the same full of grace, ready to pardon, and eager to show mercy to all who turn back to Him.

In the New Testament, Peter reminds believers who were growing impatient for Christ’s return that God’s timing is not like ours. He wrote, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” What we often see as delay is actually God’s mercy in action, His loving patience giving humanity time to come home. We grow impatient easily, but praise God that He is not like us. His forbearance reveals a love beyond measure. A love that waits, that restrains, and that keeps the door of grace open just a little longer, hoping that hearts will finally return to Him.

But this gracious forbearance of God has a purpose—it is never meant to be taken advantage of. God’s patience is not permission to continue in sin; it is an opportunity to repent. What makes this truth terrifying is when people know that God is gracious, yet continue to live the same way. They presume upon His mercy, thinking they still have time because God is waiting.

Remember the parable of the ten virgins. All of them fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom, but only five were wise enough to bring extra oil. The other five were foolish, they were unprepared when the bridegroom arrived. The waiting period was given to all, but only half used it wisely. In the same way, God’s forbearance is the time He gives us to return to Him, not to indulge in our own pleasures. His patience is not weakness; it is grace extended for a season. One day, the door will close, and those who wasted their time will realize too late that His waiting was mercy calling them home

God’s forbearance is a reflection of His deep mercy and His desire for relationship, not judgment. He restrains His anger, gives space for repentance, and shows a patience beyond human comprehension. His forbearance is His love holding back justice so that grace can have its chance. It is the love of a Father waiting with open arms for His children to come home.

The third word Paul uses is longsuffering, from the Greek word makrothymia, which means patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, and perseverance. Longsuffering is the ability to endure difficulties, offenses, or suffering for a long time without giving up or growing angry. We know how deeply God hates sin, not because He hates people, but because sin corrupts us that He created in His image and separates us from His presence.

Throughout the Scriptures, God continually reveals this longsuffering nature. From the very beginning, we see hearts turning away from God who created us in love. Adam chose to transgress God’s command rather than face separation from Eve. That one decision opened the door for sin to enter the world, and since then, mankind has continued to choose creation over the Creator.

Israel, God’s chosen people, reflected this same rebellion. Though He delivered them from Egypt with mighty power, parted the Red Sea before their eyes, and fed them in the wilderness, they continually turned to idols. They exchanged the glory of the living God for lifeless images made by their own hands.

During the time of Samuel, when the people of Israel rejected God as their King and demanded a man to rule over them, Samuel was grieved. But how much more must God have been grieved? He who created us fearfully and wonderfully, only to see them choose human leadership over Him?

God Himself expressed this pain through the prophets. He said through Ezekiel, “I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me.” Through Hosea, we hear Him cry, “My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” And through Micah, His broken heart pleads with His people, “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage.” (Micah 6:3–4).

Even today, humanity continues to grieve God’s heart. Yet in His longsuffering love, He still chose to leave His throne, take on human flesh as the Son of God, and die for the very sins that wounded Him. Then He rose again, offering forgiveness and calling us back into His loving arms.

And yet Paul says, “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering?” How could we despise a God who has done nothing but love us? who reaches out to us again and again, even when we turn away? What greater sin could there be than to ignore such love? We are commanded not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit, for He is the very presence of God dwelling within us.

Now we truly understand Paul’s words: “not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” The goodness of God’s character draws us near and satisfies our souls. His goodness is not an approval of sin but a revelation of His desire to see our lives transformed. When we grasp the depth of His patience, mercy, and love, the only response worthy of Him is worship, repentance, and gratitude. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.