Romans 7:10

10 and, as it turned out, the very Commandment which was to bring me life, brought me death.

Romans 7:10 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 7:10

And the commandment which was ordained to life
The law which promised a continuance of an immortal life to Adam, in case of perfect obedience to it; and which was appointed to the Israelites, that by the observation of it they might live in the land of Canaan, and in the quiet and full possession of their privileges and enjoyments; but was never ordained to eternal life, or that men should obtain that by their obedience to it; since eternal life is the free gift of God, without respect to any works of men; see ( Galatians 3:21 ) ; This same law, the apostle says,

I found to be unto death;
as it was an occasion, through the vitiosity of nature, of stirring up sin in him, which brought forth fruit unto death; as it convinced him that he was a dead man and worthy of death; as it threatened him with it, and struck all his hopes of eternal life dead, and left him in this condition without giving him the least direction or assistance whereby to obtain life.

Romans 7:10 In-Context

8 Sin took advantage of this, and by means of the Commandment stirred up within me every kind of coveting; for apart from Law sin would be dead.

9 Once, apart from Law, I was alive, but when the Commandment came, sin sprang into life, and I died;

10 and, as it turned out, the very Commandment which was to bring me life, brought me death.

11 For sin seized the advantage, and by means of the Commandment it completely deceived me, and also put me to death.

12 So that the Law itself is holy, and the Commandment is holy, just and good.