Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 4:6

"Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works," — Romans 4:6 (ASV)

Even as David. The apostle, having cited the example of Abraham to show that the doctrine he was defending was neither new nor contrary to the Old Testament, proceeds to cite the case of David also, and to show that he also understood the same doctrine of justification without works.

Describeth. Speaks of.

The blessedness. The happiness; or the desirable state or condition.

Unto whom God imputeth righteousness. Whom God treats as righteous, or as entitled to his favour, in a way different from his conformity to the law.

This is found in Psalm 32. And the whole scope and design of the psalm is to show the blessedness of the man who is forgiven, whose sins are not charged against him, but who is freed from the punishment due to his sins.

Being thus pardoned, he is treated as a righteous man. And it is evidently in this sense that the apostle uses the expression "imputeth righteousness"; that is, he does not impute the man's sins to him, or charge them against him; he reckons and treats him as a pardoned and righteous man (Psalms 32:2).

He regards him as one who is forgiven and admitted to his favour, and who is to be treated henceforth as if he had not sinned.

That is, he partakes of the benefits of Christ's atonement, so as not henceforth to be treated as a sinner, but as a friend of God.