Charles Spurgeon Commentary 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." — Romans 3:20 (ASV)

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin, (Romans 3:20)

All the law can do is to show us our sin. The law is a mirror, and looking in it you can see your spots; but you cannot wash in a looking-glass. If you want to be cleansed from your stains, you must go somewhere else. The object of the law of God is not to cleanse us, but to show us how much cleansing we need; to reveal our disease, not to find a remedy for it.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh—

Whether Jew or Gentile,—

For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law is a mirror; you see your spots as you gaze into it. But no man ever washed his face in a mirror; it shows the spots, but it cannot remove them. The law is the indicator and the revealer of sin; but it has no power whatever to put away sin.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:

Do not talk, therefore, of righteousness by your own works. Do not dream of meriting eternal life by any attempt to keep the law; for this is the declaration of God's Holy Spirit, By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

All the law does is show us how sinful we are. Paul has been quoting from the sacred Scriptures; and truly, they shed a lurid light upon the condition of human nature. The light can show us our sin, but it cannot take it away.

The law of the Lord is like a mirror. Now, a mirror is an excellent thing for finding out where the spots are on your face; but you cannot wash in a mirror, you cannot get rid of the spots by looking in the mirror.

The law is intended to show a man how much he needs cleansing, but the law cannot cleanse him. By the law is the knowledge of sin. The law proves that we are condemned, but it does not bring us our pardon.