Romans 7:12

Wherefore, &c. This is not a direct inference from the preceding passage. The holiness of the Law is rather assumed as an axiom than proved. But the fault of Sinhas been so brought out as to leave the faultlessness of the Lawvividly in view.

the law the commandment The general and the particular. Here "Thou shalt not lust" is the specimen-commandment. Observe the emphasis on the goodness of the commandment;it is not merely "holy" but "holy, and just, and good:" q. d., "not only is the Law in the abstract a sacred thing, but its most definite and restraining preceptsare so also, in the fullest sense." See Matthew 5:19; (also ch. Romans 12:2.)

This verse is sometimes arranged as the close of a sub-paragraph. It seems better to take it as equally connected with the past and comingcontexts; introducing now the fuller and deeper statement of the case.