Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 3 · Subsection 27
23. Quest. How no flesh is iustified by the workes of the law, v. 20.
1. By the works of the law: in that he decreeth iustification to the very workes, not to the persons or workers onelyonly, it is euident, that the places before alleadged, as v. 10. there is none righteous, no not one, are to be vnderstood generally of all, and not of the most, although some should be excluded, that did some good workes either among the Iewes or Gentiles: for euen the workes of the law, which they did, were not able to iustifie them: Melancthon.
2. By the workes, are not here vnderstood, those quae praecipiuntur, which are commanded and required by the law: for if a man could performe those works, he should finde life thereby: but such, quae praestantur, which are performed of men, Beza: either before grace, which can not iustifie, because they can not be good, or acceptable to God without faith: or in the state of grace, which can not iustifie neither, because they are imperfect, Pareus.
3. By the law, here he vnderstandeth, both the natural, whereby the Gentiles were conuinced, and the written law, giuen to the Hebrewes: for the Apostle disputeth generally against both the Gentiles and Hebrewes, proouing them both to be transgressors of the law, and so not able to be iustified thereby: Pareus: and by the works of the law, are vnderstood not onelyonly the ceremonials, and iudicials, as the ordinarie gloss. but the morall works, which the Gentiles did by the light of nature: for otherwise the Iewes onelyonly should be excluded, whereas the disputation of the Apostle is generall both against Iewes and Gentiles: Pareus… Tolet.
4. The word flesh is diuersly taken in Scripture: it signifieth the humane nature of man, as Ioh. 1.6. the word was made flesh: or the corruptible and mortall state of man, as whe… the Apostle saith, flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdome of God: or the sinfull state and condition of man, in which sense it is saide, they that are in the flesh can not please God: in which sense Origen would hauehave it taken here: that they which are carnall, not spirituall, a… denied iustification by works: but in this sense the meaning of the Apostle should be much peruerted, who generally affirmeth, that there is no iustification for any by the works of the law, but by faith: but yet the Apostle vseth this word flesh, to put man in minde of his fresh condition and state, beeing not apt of it selfe to bring forth any thing that is good: Beza.
5. To iustifie is taken three wayes: first to make one actually and verily iust: so if any man could perfectly keepe the lawe, he should thereby get an habituall and inherent iustice: secondly, it signifieth to be counted and declared iust, as wisedome is said to be iustified of her children: and thirdly, it signifieth, to forgiue, discharge, and acquite sinnes: and so is it taken here: that no man is iustified by the workes of the lawe: that is, thereby findeth forgiuenesse of his sinnes, and so is taken for iust before God: but this iustification is by faith in Christ, by whome we are acquited of our sinnes, and cloathed with his righteousnesse: Martyr.
6. The Apostle addeth, in his sight: to shewe a difference betweene iustification and righteousnesse before men, which may be attained vntounto by workes, and the perfect righteousnesse, which God requireth: sometime this phrase, in Gods sight, is vsed to shewe a difference betweene that righteousnesse which is but in shewe, and hypocrisie, and that which it in truth: as in this sense, Zacharie and Elizabeth, are said to hauehave beene iust before God, Luk. 1.6. sometime it distinguisheth betweene the righteousnesse, euen of good men, and the righteousnesse before God: as the Apostle graunteth that Abraham had wherein to glorie before men in respect of his workes, but not before God, Rom. 4.1. and so the Apostle taketh it here: It is Christ onelyonly that maketh vsus holy and vnblameable, in the sight of God, Coloss. 1.22. Beza. And further these reasons may be yeelded hereof, why none can be iustified by works in Gods sight, though before men they may. 1. in respect of the Maiestie of God, and most perfect puritie of his nature, before whom the verie Angels doe couer their faces, and feete, Isay, 6. and the heauens are not cleane in his eyes, how much more is man abhominable, Iob. 15.15. 2. God looketh not vntounto the outward shew, but to the inward disposition of the heart, which is perfect in none. 3. the lawe of God is spirituall, and requireth exact obedience of Gods commandements: so that he which offendeth in one is guilty of all, Iam. 2.10. this perfection none can attaine vntounto: Pareus.