Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Law is not made [ keitai (G2749 ): fixed: enacted] for a righteous man - standing by faith in the righteousness of Christ, put on him for justification, and put in him by the Spirit for sanctification: so not judicially amenable to the law. For sanctification the law gives no inward power. Alford goes too far in saying the righteous man does 'not morally need the law.' Doubtless, in proportion as he is led by the Spirit, the justified man needs not the outward rule (Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:23). But as he often gives not himself up wholly to the inward Spirit, he morally needs the outward law to show him his sin and God's requirements. The reason why the ten commandments have no power to condemn the Christian is not that they have no authority over him, but because Christ has fulfilled them as our surety (Romans 10:4).
Lawless - passively.
Disobedient - actively. х Anupotaktois (G506), 'not subject,' insubordinate, "unruly" (Titus 1:6; Titus 1:10).] "Lawless and disobedient" are opposers of the law; "ungodly and ... sinners" х asebesi (G765) kai (G2532) hamartoolois (G268)] are the irreverent and openly sinning against God, from whom the law comes; sinners against the first and second commandments: "unholy and profane" х anosiois (G462) kai (G2532) bebeelois (G952)] are the inwardly impure, or else impious, and those deserving exclusion from the sanctuary, sinners against the third and fourth commandments; "murderers х patrolooais (G3964), meetrolooais (G3389); rather, as parricide would be so rare as not to require a special law, smiters] of fathers and ... mothers" (Exodus 21:15; Leviticus 20:9), against the Fifth Commandment; 'man-slayers,' against the Sixth Commandment.