Romans 3:20
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Therefore by the deeds of--obedience to the law there shall no flesh be justified--that is, be held and treated as righteous; as is plain from the whole scope and strain of the argument. in his sight--at His bar (Psa 143:2). for by the law is the knowledge of sin--(See on Rom 4:15; Rom 7:7; and Jo1 3:4). Note, How broad and deep does the apostle in this section lay the foundations of his great doctrine of Justification by free grace--in the disorder of man's whole nature, the consequent universality of human guilt, the condemnation, by reason of the breach of divine law, of the whole world, and the impossibility of justification before God by obedience to that violated law! Only when these humiliating conclusions are accepted and felt, are we in a condition to appreciate and embrace the grace of the Gospel, next to be opened up.
Open source ↗The apostle, in this chapter, carries on his discourse concerning justification. He had already proved the guilt both of Gentiles and Jews. Now in this chapter, I. He answers some objections that might be made against what he had said about the Jews (Rom 3:1-8). II. He asserts the guilt and corruption of mankind in common, both Jews and Gentiles (Rom 3:9-18). III. He argues thence that justification must needs be by faith, and not by the law, which he gives several reasons for (Rom 3:19 to the end). The many digressions in his writings render his discourse sometimes a little difficult, but his scope is evident.
Open source ↗3:20 By doing what the law commands refers to obeying the requirements of the law of Moses. While this phrase refers to Jews, the principle extends to all people. If Jews cannot be put in right relationship with God by obeying the law God gave them, certainly other people cannot establish such a relationship through good deeds.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.