Romans 3:20 (DRB)

Passage

Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before him. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Nearby Context

Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law speaketh, it speaketh to them that are in the law: that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be made subject to God.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before him. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:21 But now, without the law, the justice of God is made manifest, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Romans 3:22 Even the justice of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe in him: for there is no distinction.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "works", "flesh", "shall", "before", and "knowledge". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "works", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Now we know that what things soever..." into verse 21's "But now without the law the justice...", so "justified" and "works" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "justified" and "works" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.