Romans 3:20 (LSB)

Passage

because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes 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 whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God;

Romans 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "works", "flesh", "sight", "through", "comes", 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 whatever the Law..." into verse 21's "But now apart from the Law the...", 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.