This verse reminds me a lot of James 2: 17-18 ( Verses 17 through 26 say it more completely).
James 2:17-18 ,[NAB]
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
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1859 edition](
http://haydock1859.tripod.com/id146.html) cites these two passages from scripture in reference to Romans 2:13 :
MATT 7:21
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. "
James 1:22
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Verse 25 of this same chapter of the Letter of James is sounding on the same note:
25
“But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.”
While not commenting directly on verse 13 of Romans 2, the Haydock Commentary gives this interpretation as a way to view the whole Chapter :
“The Jews are censured, who make their boast of the law, and keep it not. He declares who are the true Jews.”
… which concurs with what Diana CC posted, that, in context it refers to the Jews but it is certainly meant for all who listen to the word of God .
Some Protestant believers understand that. There are several non-Catholic commentaries on Romans 2:13-16 all on the same page
here .
Here’s a sample of one :
MacArthur adds this helpful note -
Paul here does not use the usual Greek term for hearing (akouo) but the word akroates, which was used of those whose business it is to listen. The idea is much like that of a college student. His primary purpose in class is to listen to the teacher’s instruction. Normally, he also has the responsibility of being accountable for what he hears and is tested on it. If he is simply auditing, however, he is required only to attend the class sessions. He takes no tests and receives no grade. In other words, he listens without being held accountable for what he hears. In many synagogues during Paul’s time, teaching did not focus on Scripture but on the system of man-made traditions that the rabbis had developed over the centuries since the Exile. Frequently, God’s Word in the OT was merely read and listened to, without explanation or application. Most Jews, therefore, were simply “auditing the course,” hearers of the Law and nothing more. But God recognizes no mere “auditors” of His Word. The more a person hears His truth, the more he is responsible for believing and obeying it. Unless there is obedience, the greater the hearing, the greater the judgment."
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If someone were quoting the New Testament to me tried telling me it was only meant for the Jews , I might be tempted to answer that “God gave the *10 Commandments *directly to the Jews … Does that mean we aren’t obliged to obey them either ?”
