For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
All Commentaries on Romans 4:14 Go To Romans 4
John Chrysostom
AD 407
To prevent anyone from saying that it is possible to have faith and to keep the law at the same time, Paul shows that this is impracticable. For one who clings to the law as if it were of saving force dishonors the power of faith. This is why Paul says that faith is made void, i.e., that there is no need of salvation by grace…. And without faith, there is no promise of inheritance, which is what scared the Jews most of all, because that is what they really wanted. For the promise was that they should be heirs of the entire world.
