Romans 3:19-20

Romans 3:19-20

[19] Now  we know  that  what things soever  the law  saith,  it saith  to them who are under  the law:  that  every  mouth  may be stopped,  and  all  the world  may become  guilty  before God.  [20] Therefore  by  the deeds  of the law  no  flesh  be justified  in his  sight:  for  by  the law  is the knowledge  of sin. 

What does Romans 3:19-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

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 lesser" argument: if Jews, God"s chosen people, cannot be excluded from the scope of sin"s tyranny, then it surely follows that Gentiles, who have no claim on God"s favor, are also guilty." [1]
The purpose of the law was not to provide people with a series of steps that would lead them to heaven. It was to expose their inability to merit heaven ( Galatians 3:24). Jesus had previously said that no one carries out the law completely ( John 7:19). Paul had more to say about the works of the law (i.e, works done in obedience to the law, good works) in Romans (cf. Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:2; Galatians 3:5; Galatians 3:9-10). If someone breaks only one law, he or she is a lawbreaker. The law is similar to a chain. If someone breaks even one link, the chain cannot save. If someone wants to earn God"s commendation of being perfectly righteous, he or she must obey God"s law perfectly (cf. Matthew 5:48). It is impossible therefore to earn justification (a righteous verdict from God) by performing the works that God"s law requires. [2] Romans 3:20 probably serves to confirm human accountability rather than giving a reason for it. [1]
Every human being needs the gospel because everyone is a sinner and is under God"s condemnation. In this first major section of Romans ( Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20), Paul proved the universal sinfulness of humankind. He first showed the need of all people generally ( Romans 1:18-32). Then he dealt with the sinfulness of self-righteous people particularly ( Romans 2:1 to Romans 3:8). He set forth three principles by which God judges ( Romans 2:1-16), proved the guilt of Jews, God"s chosen people ( Romans 2:17-29), and answered four objections Jews could offer to his argument ( Romans 3:1-8). Then he concluded by showing that the Old Testament also taught the depravity of every human being ( Romans 3:9-20).