Read & explore together
God’s Law Is Holy
Romans 7:7–12 explains that God’s law is not sinful. Paul shows that the law exposes sin, while sin twists the commandment and brings death. The passage ends by clearly honouring the law as holy, righteous and good.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of Romans, Paul asks a direct question about the law and answers it within the passage itself. He uses the command, “You shall not covet,” to explain how the law makes sin known, while sin uses the commandment in a destructive way. The passage closes with a clear verdict about the law.
Romans 7:7–12Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God’s law is holy, and the real problem is sin using the commandment against us.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The law reveals sinPaul begins with a question: is the law sin? He answers strongly, “May it never be!” Then he explains that the law makes sin known.
Explanation
Paul begins with a question: is the law sin? He answers strongly, “May it never be!” Then he explains that the law makes sin known. His example is coveting. Without the command, “You shall not covet,” he says he would not have known that sin in this way.
02Sin uses the commandmentThe problem in the passage is not the law itself but sin. Paul says sin found an opportunity through the commandment and produced all kinds of coveting.
Explanation
The problem in the passage is not the law itself but sin. Paul says sin found an opportunity through the commandment and produced all kinds of coveting. He adds that apart from the law, sin is dead. The commandment becomes the occasion that sin seizes for its own work.
03The commandment and deathPaul describes a change: he was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and he died.
Explanation
Paul describes a change: he was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and he died. He says the commandment was for life, yet he found it resulted in death. This shows the commandment’s purpose is not evil, even though the outcome he experienced was deadly.
04Sin deceives, but the law is holyPaul says sin found an opportunity through the commandment, deceived him, and killed him. That is why his conclusion matters so much.
Explanation
Paul says sin found an opportunity through the commandment, deceived him, and killed him. That is why his conclusion matters so much. He does not blame the law. Instead, he states plainly that the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul mention the command, “You shall not covet”?
He uses that command as a clear example of how the law makes sin known.
02According to this passage, what is doing the deceiving and killing?
Look for the subject in verses 8 and 11. Paul says sin uses the commandment as an opportunity.
03How does Paul describe the law and the commandment at the end?
Answer with the exact words of verse 12, because they sum up the whole argument.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 7:7–12
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
8But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
9I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
10The commandment which was for life, this I found to be for death;
11for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
12Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, righteous, and good.