Romans 10:2

For. bear them witness that they have. zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

'For. bear them witness' -'reason why. sympathize with their efforts, though misdirected' (Alford p. 929). 'I can testify that they are zealous for the honour of God' (TCNT); 'I can vouch for their zeal for God' (Mof); 'I know from experience what. passion for God they have'. (Phi)

'He understands their state of mind better than most: "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" exactly describes his own attitude before he met the risen Christ. Of that zeal of his he speaks elsewhere: his zeal for the ancestral traditions of his people impelled him to forge ahead of his contemporaries in his devotion to the study and practice of the Jewish religion. (Galatians 1:13 f; 1 Peter 3:6) He too had kicked against the stone of stumbling..and if this had happened to him, why could it not happen to this people?'

'With what excessive zeal he had once burned (Acts 8:1; Acts 9:1). He refers to the Jewish hatred of idolatry, their fanatic reverence for the Temple (Acts 21:28), their outward obedience to the law and the rabbinical traditions (Mark 7:2), and, to crown all of these, their hatred of Christ and of Christianity. (Acts 17:5; Acts 18:12).'

Yes, from experience Paul could testify to the Jewish zeal (though misdirected) for God. (Acts 14:19)

Points to Note:

1. Being really excited about serving God, isn't enough. Emotion, uproar, shouting, etc..don't constitute acceptable service to God.

2. Many defend various religious groups, by saying, 'Well, you can't fault them for their zeal', as if 'zeal' is all that one needs. Paul prayed for 'very zealous people', why? Because these 'zealous people for God', were lost! (Proverbs 16:25)

3. Remember: Error produces 'zeal' also. (1 Peter 4:4) In fact, 'zeal', without the correct knowledge, can turn into. dangerous thing,. lot of people can get hurt and end up lost. (Matthew 7:21) 'Zeal' can make error look. lot more appealing.

'It is better', says Augustine, 'to go limping in the right way, than to run with all our might out of the way.' (McGarvey p. 420)

'An unbelieving Jew could interpret his opposition to the gospel..as zeal for the divinely-given rule of life, and his opposition to the crucified Messiah as zeal for the divinely-given promises. It was God's honour for which he stood in refusing the Gospel..this religious earnestness is not regulated by adequate knowledge.'

'but not according to knowledge' -'it is not an intelligent devotion' (Gspd); 'not according to correct knowledge' (Rhm). 'Full or correct and vital knowledge'. (Vincent p. 112)