Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 5:20

"And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:" — Romans 5:20 (ASV)

That the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20)

It makes us see sin where we never saw it. It comes on purpose to drive us to despair of being saved by works. It bids us look to the flames that Moses saw, and shrink and tremble with despair.

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

There was more grace than terror even in the law. It has served a gracious purpose, for it was given to make us realize our guilt, and so might drive us to seek the grace of God for its forgiveness.

Salvation is all of grace. Sin cannot conquer grace; it has had a hard struggle for it, but grace will ultimately win the victory in all who believe in Jesus.

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Blessed be God for that! Sin may be a river, but grace is an ocean. Sin may be a mountain, but grace is like Noah's flood, which prevailed over the tops of the mountains fifteen cubits upward.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.

The law was not given to Moses to stop sin, or to forgive sin, but to make people see how evil sin is, and to make it evident to them how evil they are.