SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:14
Porque si los que son de la ley son los herederos, vana es la fe, y anulada es la promesa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 4:14
Verse 14. For, if they which are of the law be heirs] If the Jews only be heirs of the promise made to Abraham, and that on the ground of prior obedience to the law, then faith is made void-is entirely useless; and the promise, which was made to faith, is made of none effect.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. For if they which are of the law be heirs , etc..] That is, if the Jews who are under the law, and are seeking for righteousness and life by the works of it, should, on the account of their obedience to it, be heirs of the grace of life and of glory, faith is made void ; for if the right to the inheritance is by the works of the law, there is no room for faith; that can be of no use or service; and the promise made of none effect : if salvation is by works, it is to no purpose for God to promise, or men to believe; for the thing promised depends not upon God's promise, but upon man's obedience to the law; and if that is not perfectly observed, as it cannot possibly be, then the promise of God stands for nothing, and is in course made void. The apostle here argues from the absurdities which follow upon the doctrine of justification by works, as he does from the different effects of the law, in the following verse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-22 - The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points a Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showin that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointe it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews of Gentiles, in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and thi giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are shown. He believe God's testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firml hoping when the case seemed hopeless. It is weakness of faith, tha makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears. God honour faith; and great faith honours God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousnes of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received. Abraham's faith di not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 COND γαρ 1063 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM εκ 1537 PREP νομου 3551 N-GSM κληρονομοι 2818 N-NPM κεκενωται 2758 5769 V-RPI-3S η 3588 T-NSF πιστις 4102 N-NSF και 2532 CONJ κατηργηται 2673 5769 V-RPI-3S η 3588 T-NSF επαγγελια 1860 N-NSF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:14 {Be heirs} (kleronomoi). No predicate in the Greek (eisin). See on Ga 4:1. If legalists are heirs of the Messianic promise to Abraham (condition of first class, assumed as true for argument's sake), the faith is emptied of all meaning (keken"tai, perfect passive indicative of kenow) and the promise to Abraham is made permanently idle (katrgtai).
