⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

Paul turned to an illustration from human experience of God’s unconditional love for us—the sacrifice of one person for another. The illustration is one of contrast. There are a few rare individuals who give themselves for people they favor, but God gave His Son for those not oriented to Him.

⁷ For one will scarcely [rarely] die for a righteous person

Someone who willingly dies for a righteous person is someone who is willing to take their place. The hope of his action is that the righteous person will continue to live. This is the highest manifestation of human love. The word “for” here again means in place of.

The righteous person here is not the righteous person from God’s viewpoint but in man’s eyes. This person holds steadfastly to personal standards.

—though perhaps for a good [noble, generous] person one would dare even to die—

It is rare that people would die for even a righteous man. However, there are people who will do this, especially in war. Soldiers will risk their lives for their country. Mothers will put their lives on the line for their children. In neither of these situations do people voluntarily give up their lives; they know there is a chance of death, and they have a willingness to die.

PRINCIPLE:

Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other; if A = C and B = C, then A = B.

APPLICATION:

No one would die for sinners except Jesus. Who can find anyone who would do this? We see Christ’s love by His death on the cross. The cross (C) forms the equation between the Father’s love (A) and the Son’s love (B). The oneness of the Father and Son is evident in this. The Father gave and the Son laid down His life. The love of the Father and Son is expressed fully in the cross. Sin cannot repel God’s love.