Romans 7:8

But through this commandment sin found a way to stir up in me all kinds of selfish desires—for without law, sin is dead.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

In Context

7So what do we conclude? That the law is sin? Of course not! I wouldn't have known what sin was unless the law defined it. I wouldn't have realized that wanting to have other people's things for myself was wrong without the law that says, “Don't desire for yourself what belongs to someone else.”

9I used to live without realizing what the law really meant, but when I understood the implications of that commandment, then sin came back to life, and I died.

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Cross References

John 15:22If I hadn't come and spoken to them, they wouldn't be guilty of sin—but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 4:15For the law results in punishment —but if there's no law then it cannot be broken.

Romans 7:11because sin found a way through the commandment to deceive me, and used the commandment to kill me!

Romans 7:17So it's no longer me who does this, but sin living in me—

James 1:14Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.

Matthew Henry on Romans 7:8-25

Excellency of the Law; Usefulness of the Law. ( a. d. 58.) 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. 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. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto… Read the whole commentary →

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