Romans 3:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 3:20

By the deeds of the law - By works; or by such deeds as the Law requires. The word “Law” has, in the Scriptures, a great variety of significations. Its strict and proper meaning is, a rule of conduct prescribed by superior authority. The course of reasoning in these chapters shows the sense in which the apostle uses it here. He intends evidently to apply it to those rules or laws by which the Jews and Gentiles pretended to frame their lives; and to affirm that people could be justified by no... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 3:19-20

Romans 3:19-20. Now what things soever the law saith That is, the Old Testament, for these quotations are not made from any part of the five books of Moses, but from the Psalms and Prophets; it saith to them that are under the law That is, to those who own its authority, to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles. The apostle quoted no scripture against them, knowing it would have answered no end to do so, as they did not acknowledge the authority of the Scriptures; but he pleaded with them... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 3:9-20

All humankind is sinful (3:9-20)From his discussion on the state of the Gentile and Jewish worlds, Paul concludes that the whole human race is under the power of sin (9). He quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures to show how sin affects every part of human life. Sin causes people to be rebellious against God, both in their thoughts and in their actions (10-12). It causes their speech to be harmful and destructive (13-14) and their plans to be violently selfish (15-17). They have no respect... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 3:20

the deeds of the law = works of law. Compare Romans 3:27 . the law = law. See Romans 2:12 . knowledge . App-132 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 3:20

Because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.A glance at the English Revised Version (1885) margin shows that Paul here used a word for "law" that seems to be broader than Moses' law, and some of the commentators have made much of that; but what is unanswered is why Paul who had just mentioned the law in a context where it was positively identified as the Old Testament (Romans 3:19), should here be thought of as having... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Romans 3:20

Romans 3:20. By the deeds of the law— The deeds or works of the law here mentioned appear to be those in which both Jews and Gentiles were defective; and with regard to which every mouth was stopped, or on account of which no part of mankind could plead a right or worthiness to be admitted into the kingdom of God. Some render the last clause, The law takes cognizance of sin. See Locke, Vitringa, and Bishop Bull's Harmonia. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 3:20

20. 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 (Psalms 143:2). for by the law is the knowledge of sin—(See on Psalms 143:2- :; Psalms 143:2- :; and Psalms 143:2- :). 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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 3:9-20

C. The guilt of all humanity 3:9-20Having now proven all people, Jews and Gentiles, under God’s wrath, Paul drove the final nail in mankind’s spiritual coffin by citing Scriptural proof. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 3:18-20

II. THE NEED FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS 1:18-3:20Paul began his explanation of the gospel by demonstrating that there is a universal need for it. Every human being needs to trust in Jesus Christ because everyone lacks the righteousness that God requires before He will accept us."Paul implicitly acknowledges that Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20 is an interruption in his exposition of the righteousness of God by reprising Romans 1:17 in Romans 3:21 . . . Some think that the ’revelation of God’s wrath’ is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 3:19-20

Paul added that, whatever the law (here the Old Testament) says, it addresses to those involved in it, namely, all the Jews. He wrote this to take the ground out from under a Jewish reader who might try to say that the passages just quoted refer only to the Godless. The result of its condemnation is that no one will be able to open his mouth in his own defense (cf. Revelation 20:11-14). "All the world" describes all of humanity again."Probably Paul is using an implicit ’from the greater to the... read more

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