Read

The Purpose of the Law

Romans 3:20

Paul's readers and listeners may have been confused about the law and its purpose. Pharisees and other pious Jews were careful to do everything they thought the law required; believing that keeping the law would earn them God's favor. But Paul repeatedly opposed that idea with statements such as, "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (3:20). Laws do not save; they only condemn. We can meticulously obey the speed limit, but as soon as we are caught speeding, we get a ticket and are labeled lawbreakers regardless of our great driving record.

Paul's audience might then ask: Does this mean that the law was and is useless? Not at all, he explains: "The law was tutor [put in charge] to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Gal. 3:24). In other words, the law is like a straight edge to show us how crooked we are—and to highlight our need for a Savior.

Back to Romans