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

'Despisest' -'think lightly' (NASV). The word 'or' states an alternative. Either he thinks he will escape, or he despises God.

-to contemn, disdain, think little or nothing of (Thayer p. 338)

The Jew or 'moral' Gentile who continued in what they knew to be wrong, actually looked down upon the generosity of God. They may have been thinking, 'I don't need that forgiveness stuff like the rest of men'.

'Riches of His goodness..' -God had been mighty good to the Jewish people, despite their stubbornness. Other nations had passed by the wayside, lost their cultural identity, or lost their homeland.

'the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?' -in some people God's kindness, demonstrated in second chances, time to repent and escape from the physical consequences of some sins, only makes them more presumptuous. Unfortunately, some will always view 'time and opportunity' as time to get into more sin. (2 Peter 3:9) Whatever time and second chances that God gives mankind, man doesn't deserve them. 'Time' between now and the Judgement, is undeserved and it is. demonstration that God is kind and patient. The Jewish people were under the mistaken impression that God would never punish them.

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Old Testament