Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 8:27

"and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God." — Romans 8:27 (ASV)

At length Paul arrives at the final ministry of the Spirit mentioned in this chapter, his work of intercession. “In the same way” seems to link this ministry with hope. Both help to sustain believers amid the burdens and disappointments of life. The word “weakness” (GK 819) is a general expression for the Christian’s limitations while still in the human body. Paul had long before discovered his weakness and along with it the compensating factor of the power of God (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). He admits that we often do not know our real needs as God sees them, nor do we know the needs of others. Going deeper, we do not know the will of God respecting these things. In the last analysis, it is God’s will that determines how our prayers will be answered.

Standing over against this severe limitation is the gladdening information that “the Spirit helps us.” The culmination of the Spirit’s activity on our behalf is the declaration that he intercedes “for the saints” (intercessory prayer means prayer for others). Prayer activity on the part of believers goes on in the background and is overshadowed played by the Spirit of God. Elsewhere (Ephesians 6:18) this is called praying in the Spirit.

Verse 27 is needed to clarify something referred to in v.26, i.e., the inexpressible groanings. How can such prayer, if it be called prayer at all, be answered? Are not such prayers unintelligible? Not for God! He is no stranger to the intent of the Spirit. He knows what the inexpressible meaning is, because the petitions that the Spirit voices are strictly in accord with the will of God. It is a mistake to associate the inexpressible groanings with glossolalia.