Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 7:8

"but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin [is] dead." — Romans 7:8 (ASV)

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

If there had never been any law, there could not have been any sin, because sin is a breaking of law. The law is good. We are not speaking about that. The law is necessary, but still, such is our nature that the very existence of law reveals and brings about the existence of sin. And when the law comes, then sin comes immediately.

Without the law sin was dead.