He died for the ungodly; not only helpless creatures, and therefore likely to perish, but guilty sinful creatures, and therefore deserving to perish; not only mean and worthless, but vile and obnoxious, unworthy of such favor with the holy God. Being ungodly, they had need of one to die for them, to satisfy for guilt, and to bring in a righteousness. This he illustrates (Rom. 5:7, Rom. 5:8) as an unparalleled instance of love; herein God's thoughts and ways were above ours. Compare Joh. 15:13, Joh. 15:14, Greater love has no man.
Matthew Henry















