Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 10:5

"For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby." — Romans 10:5 (ASV)

For Moses describes, etc. This is found in Leviticus 18:5: Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them. This appeal is made to Moses, regarding both the righteousness of the law and that of faith, in accordance with Paul's usual manner of supporting all his positions with the Old Testament and showing that he was introducing no new doctrine. He was only affirming what had been taught long before in the writings of the Jews themselves. The word describes is, literally, writes (grafei), a word often used in this sense.

The righteousness, etc. This refers to the righteousness that a perfect obedience to the law of God would produce. That righteousness consisted in perfectly doing all that the law required.

The man which doeth these things. This refers to the man who performs or obeys what was declared in the previous statutes. Moses here was referring to all the commandments God had given, both moral and ceremonial. The doctrine of Moses, which pertains to all laws, is that whoever renders perfect and continued compliance with all the statutes made known will receive the reward the law promises.

This is a first principle of all law, for all law holds a person to be innocent—and therefore entitled to whatever immunities and rewards it has to confer—until they are proved to be guilty. In this case, however, Moses did not affirm that in fact anyone either had yielded or would yield perfect obedience to the law of God. The Scriptures elsewhere abundantly teach that it never has been done.

Doeth. This means obeys, or yields obedience. So also Matthew 5:19, Shall do and teach them;Matthew 7:24, 26, Whosoever heareth these sayings—and doeth them; also Matthew 23:3; Mark 3:35; Mark 6:20; and Luke 6:46, 47, 49.

Shall live. This means to obtain felicity. Obedience will render a person happy and entitle them to the rewards of the obedient. Moses doubtless referred here to all the results that would follow obedience.

The effect would be to produce happiness in this life and in the life to come. The principle on which happiness would be conferred would be the same whether in this world or the next.

The tendency and result of obedience would be to promote order, health, purity, and benevolence; to advance the welfare of man and the honor of God, and thus it must confer happiness. The idea of happiness is often represented in the Scriptures by the word life. (See the notes on John 5:24).

It is evident, moreover, that the Jews understood Moses here as referring to more than temporal blessings. The ancient Targum of Onkelos renders the passage in Leviticus thus — "The man who does these things shall live in them to eternal life." So the Arabic version is, "The retribution of him who works these things is that he shall live an eternal life."

By them (en autoiv). In them. In their observance he will find happiness. This happiness is not simply a result or reward, but the very act of obeying carries its own reward. This is the case with all true religion.

This declaration of Moses is still true. If perfect obedience were rendered, it would, by its very nature, confer happiness and life as long as the obedience continued. God would not punish the innocent. But in this world, such obedience never has been rendered, except in the case of the Lord Jesus; and the consequence is that the course of man has been attended with pain, sorrow, and death.