But when the commandment came,etc. So now, on the other hand, he sets forth the law as
coming when it began to be really understood. It then raised sin as it were from be dead; for it
discovered to Paul how great depravity abounded in the recesses of his heart, and at the same time
it slew him. We must ever remember that he speaks of that inebriating confidence in which hypocrites
settle, while they flatter themselves, because they overlook their sins.
10.Was found by me,etc. Two things are stated here — that the commandment shows to us a
way of life in the righteousness of God, and that it was given in order that we by keeping the law
of the Lord might obtain eternal life, except our corruption stood in the way. But as none of us obey
the law, but, on the contrary, are carried headlong on our feet and hands into that kind of life from
which it recalls us, it can bring us nothing but death. We must thus distinguish between the character
of the law and our own wickedness. It hence follows, that it is incidental that the law inflicts on us
a deadly wound, as when an incurable disease is more exasperated by a healing remedy. I indeed
allow that it is an inseparable incident, and hence the law, as compared with the gospel, is called
in another place the ministration of death; but still this remains unaltered, that it is not in its own
nature hurtful to us, but it is so because our corruption provokes and draws upon us its curse.
11.Led me out of the way,etc. It is indeed true, that while the will of God is hid from us, and
no truth shines on us, the life of men goes wholly astray and is full of errors; nay, we do nothing
but wander from the right course, until the law shows to us the way of living rightly: but as we
begin then only to perceive our erroneous course, when the Lord loudly reproves us, Paul says
rightly, that we are led out of the way, when sin is made evident by the law. Hence the verb,
ἐξαπατᾷν, must be understood, not of the thing itself, but of our knowledge; that is, that it is made
manifest by the law how much we have departed from the right course. It must then be necessarily
rendered, led me out of the way; for hence sinners, who before went on heedlessly, loathe and
abominate themselves, when they perceive, through the light which the law throws on the turpitude
of sin, that they had been hastening to death. But he away introduces the word occasion, and for
this purpose — that we may know that the law of itself does not bring death, but that this happens
through something else, and that this is as it were adventitious.^215
12.So then the law is indeed holy, etc. Some think that the words law and commandment is a
repetition of the same thing; with whom I agree;^216 and I consider that there is a peculiar force in
the words, when he says, that the law itself and whatever is commanded in the law, is holy, and
therefore to be regarded with the highest reverence, — that it is just, and cannot therefore be charged
(^215) This verse will be better understood if we consider it as in a manner a repetition, in another form, of what the former verse
contains, and this is perfectly consistent with the usual manner of the Apostle. His object seems to have been to prevent a
misapprehension of what he had said, that the commandment which was for life proved to be unto death. He hence says, that
sin availed itself of the commandment, and by it deceived him, that is, promised him life, and then by it killed him, that is, proved
fatal to him. There is a correspondence in meaning between the commandment unto life and deceiving, and between death and
killing. In Romans 7:8, sin, as a person, is said to take advantage of the commandment to work every kind of sinful desires: but
it is said here to take this advantage to deceive by promising life, and then to destroy, to expose, and subject him to death and
misery. — Ed.
(^216) This is doubtless true, and it is an example of what the Apostle’s manner of writing is, it being that of the ancient prophets.
How various are the words used in the 119th Psalm to designate the law or the revealed will of God? and two different words
are often used in the same verse.
Having spoken of the law in connection with sin, the Apostle may be supposed to have had the character of sin in view in
characterizing the law. Sin works depraved desires and lusts; the law is holy: sin deceives and acts the traitor, the law is
plain-dealing and just: sin leads to death and misery; the law is good and leads to happiness. The last contrast is evident from
what follows in the next verse, “Was that which is good made death unto me?” — Ed.