3:19 {5} Now we know that what things soever the {m} law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that {6} every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become {n} guilty before God.
(5) He proves that this grievous accusation which is uttered by David and Isaiah correctly refers to the Jews.
(m) The Law of Moses.
(6) A conclusion of all the former discussions, from Ro 1:18 on. Therefore, says the apostle, no man can hope to be justified by any law, whether it be that general law, or the particular law of Moses, and therefore to be saved: seeing it appears (as we have already proved) by comparing the law and man's life together, that all men are sinners, and therefore worthy of condemnation in the sight of God.
(n) Be found guilty before God.
3:19 Whatever things soever the law saith, etc. The law of Moses was written for the Jews especially, and whatsoever it saith, it saith to those under it, to the Jews; just as the United States law is addressed to the people of the United States.
That every mouth may be stopped. It has just been seen that even the mouth of the Jew is stopped, since none are righteous, no, not one (Ro 3:10 Ps 14:3); hence
all the world, Jew as well as Gentile, are guilty before God.
3:19 Whatsoever the law - The Old Testament. Saith, it saith to them that are under the law - That is, to those who own its authority; to the Jews, and not the gentiles. St. Paul quoted no scripture against them, but pleaded with them only from the light of nature. Every mouth - Full of bitterness, Rom 3:14, and yet of boasting, Rom 3:27. May become guilty - May be fully convicted, and apparently liable to most just condemnation. These things were written of old, and were quoted by St. Paul, not to make men criminal, but to prove them so.
3:19,20 It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.
