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But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Paradox of Prohibition
Scholars explain that this verse reveals a paradoxical truth about our fallen nature: prohibiting something can make it more desirable. Sin, personified as a rebellious force, uses God's good law as a 'springboard' or 'base of operations' to stir up forbidden desires. As one commentator notes, a 'Don't pick the flowers' sign can tempt someone to do what they hadn't considered. This shows how our hearts can twist good into an occasion for evil.
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Romans
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12
18th Century
Presbyterian
But sin. To illustrate the effect of the law on the mind, the apostle in this verse depicts its influence in exciting evil desire…
Finding occasion (αφορμην λαβουσα). See 2 Corinthians 5:12; 11:12; Galatians 5:13 for αφορμην, a starting p…
19th Century
Anglican
Taking occasion.—The word in the G_reek originally implies a military metaphor: taking as a “base of operations,” i.e., a…
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Baptist
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by …
In the background is the Genesis story of the temptation and the Fall. Eve was faced with a commandment—a prohibition. When desire was stirred thro…
16th Century
Protestant
But an occasion being taken, etc. From sin, then, and the corruption of the flesh, every evil proceeds; the law is only the occas…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But sin taking occasion by the commandment By "the commandment" is meant, either the whole moral law, or that partic…
There is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin, which is necessary for repentance and therefore for peace and pardon, except by testing our hea…
13th Century
Catholic
After showing that through Christ’s grace we are freed from the slavery of the law, and that this liberation is useful, the Apostle now a…
