Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Romans Ch.3 / 16 Ch.s
RO:3
* Objections answered. (1-8) All mankind are sinners. (9-18)
Both Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their own deeds.
(19,20) It is owing to the free grace of God, through faith in
the righteousness of Christ, yet the law is not done away.
(21-31)
#1-8 The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the
Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated
ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his
service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all
were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the
conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed
to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief
happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to
believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many
professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will
fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened
vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for
ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The
wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need
of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in
punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is
oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus
justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that
duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not
commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even
assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak
and act thus, their condemnation is just.
#9-18 Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt
of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of
sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain
by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which
describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace
restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these
texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their
principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before
their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked
for.
#19,20 It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of
the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful
word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him
for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever
stop any justification by our own works.
#21-26 Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever
incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open
for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his
ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith
which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so
Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a
Saviour, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest,
and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him:
in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through
Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all
that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a
crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing
in us to deserve such favours. It comes freely unto us, but
Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special
regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement.
God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that
he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would
satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to
demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has
accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
#27-31 God will have the great work of the justification and
salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to
shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works,
boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by
faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to
be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it
is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience,
or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the
sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be
pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the
unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should
remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince
us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we
cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to
it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.