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Here the apostle amplifies, extols, and magnifies the love of Christ in dying for us, when we were enemies to him; by comparing his love to us, with our love to one another: He intimates to us, that amongst men it is very rare and seldom known that one man will lay down his life to save another's; but if so, it must be for a very extraordinary friend, for a person of uncommon goodness, and of eminent worth; For, says he, scarcely for a righteous man will one die.
As if he had said, Such a thing may be, but it is scarcely ever known, that a person will lay down his life for another though he be a very righteous, innocent, and truly honest man. Perhaps for a good man, that is, for a very king and bountiful benefactor; for some person of rare charity, and extraordinary goodness; for a man that is a public blessing and common good to the whole community; some person, from a sense of strong obligations, would even dare to die.
The scope of the apostle is this: To set forth the transcendency of Christ's love in dying for the ungodly, to shew that it is beyond all human example, and that there can be no resemblance, much less any parallel of it; He loved us, and gave himself for us. Had he only as an advocate spoken and pleaded for us, his condescension had been admirable, and his love unspeakable. But to die, yea, to die for us, to be not only our Mediator, but Redeemer; not only our Redeemer, but our Ransom; Here is love beyond comparison: Blessed Jesus! was ever love like thine?