Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 4:14

"For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:" — Romans 4:14 (ASV)

Is made void.—Literally, emptied of its meaning, it becomes an empty name, and the promise is rendered invalid. There is nothing left for either to do if the adherents of the law, simply as such, are to be the inheritors of the Messianic kingdom.

On verses 14-17

This Messianic kingdom cannot have anything to do with law; for if it did, faith and the promise would cease to have any role. Faith and law cannot coexist. They are the opposites of each other.

The proper effect of law is punishment; for law only exposes sin. Faith, on the other hand, is the real key to the inheritance.

It sets grace in motion; and grace, unlike law, excludes no one. It is open alike to the legal and to the spiritual descendants of Abraham—in other words (as Scripture itself testifies), to all humankind, for whom Abraham stands before God as a representative.