Romans 7:10

And the commandment. This verse reads literally, “The commandment the one for life, this was found for me unto death.”

Ordained to life. The promise of life accompanied the giving of God’s laws to Israel (Lev. 18:5; Deut. 5:33; Eze. 18:9, 21; 20:11, 13, 21; cf. Matt. 19:17). There is nothing arbitrary about this. God’s laws for our physical, mental, and spiritual welfare are all given for our best good. Life and prosperity, both in the present age and in the ages to come, depend upon perfect compliance with God’s immutable laws.

I found. Literally, “this was found for me.” That is, the commandment was found.

The repetition of the subject by the word “this,” omitted in the KJV, adds emphasis to the strange inconsistency expressed in this verse. The very commandment, on the observance of which Paul was relying for salvation, he at last learned could only condemn him to death.

This is a key verse in Paul’s argument that sinners must not depend on law for salvation. Paul has clearly explained, and is now illustrating from his own experience, that self-righteous reliance upon the law is a serious misunderstanding of the law itself and can lead only to the surprising discovery expressed in this verse. The law of God presents a high spiritual standard to which no sinful mortal can possibly attain by his own unaided efforts. He stands before it only in guilt and condemnation. But happy is the man who, thus realizing his helplessness and need, turns to the Saviour, in whom alone can righteousness and salvation be found (Gal. 3:24).

The great error of many Jews was their misconception of the function of law in a sinful world. In their pride of self-righteousness they were unwilling to acknowledge their guilt before the law and their inability to live up to its precepts. Consequently, they saw no need of the Saviour. They devoted themselves to the diligent study of the Scriptures, believing that in the law they would find life — not condemnation. They would not come to Christ that they might have righteousness and life (see John 5:39, 40). See on Eze. 16:60.

Unto death. By the law Paul gained a knowledge of sin (vs. 7-9; cf. ch. 3:20), and “the wages of sin is death” (ch. 6:23).