Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 1:24

"Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:" — Romans 1:24 (ASV)

Therefore. That is, because they were unwilling to retain Him in their knowledge and chose to worship idols. Here is traced the practical tendency of heathenism; not as an innocent and harmless system, but as resulting in the most gross and shameless acts of depravity.

God also gave them up. He abandoned them, or He ceased to restrain them, and allowed them to act out their inclinations and to manifest them in their lives. This does not imply that He exerted any positive influence in inducing them to sin, any more than it would if we were to seek, by argument and entreaty, to restrain a headstrong youth, and when neither would prevail, were to leave him to act out his propensities and go to ruin as he chose. It is implied in this:

1. that the tendency of humanity was to these sins;
2. that the tendency of idolatry was to promote them; and
3. that all that was necessary for people to commit them was for God to leave them to follow the devices and desires of their own hearts. (2 Thessalonians 2:10, 12).

To uncleanness. To impurity or moral defilement; particularly to those impurities which he proceeds to specify (Romans 1:26 and following).

Through the lusts of their own hearts. Or, in consequence of their own evil and depraved passions and desires. He left them to act out, or manifest, their depraved affections and inclinations.

To dishonour. To disgrace (Romans 1:26, 27).

Between themselves. Among themselves, or mutually. They did it by unlawful and impure connections with one another.