Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 7:12

"So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good." — Romans 7:12 (ASV)

It is time for the apostle to give a decisive answer to the question he raised in v.7: “Is the law sin?” So far from being identifiable with sin, the law is holy, as are the individual commandments (such as the command not to covet). The law is “holy” because it comes from a holy God and searches out sin. It is “righteous” because it lays just requirements on people and because it forbids and condemns sin. It is “good” because its aim is life (v.10). The misuse of the law at the hands of sin has not altered its own essential character.