For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (13) (For not the hearers of the law just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (14) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (15) Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (16) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Here the Apostle enters upon the subject, which is the great design he had in view in this whole chapter. His object is to prove, that the had no more advantage by the law, in a way of justification, than (as he had before shewn in the preceding chapter), the had by the light of nature. Both were included under sin. Having introduced the subject by the preparatory verses, he here enters upon it in the consideration of the law.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (13) (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (14) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (15) Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (16) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Here the Apostle enters upon the subject, which is the great design he had in view in this whole chapter. His object is to prove, that the Jew had no more advantage by the law, in a way of justification, than (as he had before shewn in the preceding chapter), the Gentile had by the light of nature. Both were included under sin. Having introduced the subject by the preparatory verses, he here enters upon it in the consideration of the law.
And, first, he considers sinners in the Adam-nature of a fallen state, as sinning, and perishing without law, as a positive and decided proof, that all who sin under the law must be judged, and will consequently fall under the just sentence by that law. And then, in a parenthesis which takes up three verses, the Apostle draws the line of equity to prove the justness of this decision, as it relates both to Jew and Gentile; the one by the law of conscience, and the other by the law of the covenant given to Israel on Mount Sinai.
Some men, (indeed most men), who have written, or commented upon the subject, have dwelt much upon the law of Moses, as divided into two parts; and have called it, Ceremonial and Moral. But this distinction certainly is not scriptural; for there is not such a word in the whole Bible, as Moral. The Law indeed, is, made up of precepts and ordinances; but then, both point to Christ, and both are fulfilled in Christ. And the law had no other tendency, than to act as a school-master to Christ, See Galatians 3:24 and Commentary. And, as Christ is said by the Holy Ghost, to be the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone that believeth; Romans 10:4, in Him, both the accomplishment of the ordinances, and the fulfillment of the precepts, are alike found.
That the law, in all its bearings had this direction, and was intended for no other purpose, is evident, from the spirituality of its nature. Its chief object was to shew the necessity of a purity within; not of mere ceremonies without. And the law insisted upon an holiness of the thoughts, as well as of the actions. And, therefore, this one view alone is enough to manifest, that none of the Adam - nature stock could come up to it. Indeed it was never expected. For, the Apostle elsewhere saith, in answer to the important question; wherefore then serveth the law? It was added, (saith he), because of transgressions, Galatians 3:19. As if he had said, it was given, to set forth the spirituality of God's holy law; and the total impossibility of any one of the sons of Adam, by nature, fulfilling it. And what was all this, but Preaching Christ, in all his fulness and glory, as the Law-fulfiller, in the character and capacity of the Surety of his people? Hebrews 7:22.