Some interpreters of Romans 3:20 suggest that Paul must be speaking of two different laws—perhaps distinguishing between the ceremonial law and the moral law. But a closer look at the text shows that this is not the case.
First, the Greek text itself does not support such a division. Paul uses the singular nomos (“law”) throughout the passage. Both the phrases “works of the law” and “through the law” are singular. There is no grammatical shift to suggest that he has two different laws in view. Paul is treating the law as one unified whole.
Second, the immediate context confirms this unity. In Romans 3:9–19, Paul has just demonstrated from a series of Old Testament quotations that all people—Jew and Gentile alike—are under sin. Then in verse 19 he concludes, “whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped.” Here, “the law” plainly refers to the Torah as a whole, functioning as God’s covenant standard. Verse 20 follows directly from this point: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified.” Paul is drawing one conclusion from one law, not from two.
Third, Paul’s real contrast in this passage is not between ceremonial and moral law, but between law and faith. He makes this explicit in verse 21: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…through faith in Jesus Christ.” The issue is not which kind of law could justify, but rather that no form of law-keeping justifies at all. Justification comes by faith in Christ alone.
Paul makes the same point in Galatians 2:16, almost word for word: “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” There too, Paul refers to Torah as a whole—circumcision, dietary regulations, and moral commands alike. He never divides it into two separate laws to explain justification.
Finally, we should note that Jewish thought at the time did not separate the law into “moral” and “ceremonial” categories. Torah was seen as a unified covenant given at Sinai, binding in all its parts. When Paul says “the law,” his Jewish and Gentile audience would have understood it to mean that covenantal law in its entirety, not two different systems.
In light of these considerations, Romans 3:20 does not refer to two different laws. Paul consistently uses “the law” to mean the Torah in its entirety. His argument is that no form of law-keeping—whether ritual observance or moral obedience—can justify a sinner before God. The law reveals sin, but it cannot remove it. Justification comes only through faith in Christ.
Paul says in Romans 5:13 (
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. In other words if there is no law there is no sin. Sin is not imputed or no blame can be accredited to any person when there is no law. Now, let’s see what Sin is according to the Bible in I John 3:4 it states, "
whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So if the law was nailed to the cross that would mean its okay to use the Lords name in vain, put other gods before HIM, make graven images and bow before them, pollute the Sabbath day, steal, commit murder, commit adultery and bear false witness. If all these things are okay to commit, then we might as well throw the Bible out the back door and do what ever feels good to us.
We will see that Paul was in fact a law keeper and how he preached out of the Law and the Prophets.
Now let's begin by taking a look at both of the laws and how they worked together. We will see there were
two laws given to Moses, they were the
commandments and the sacrificial law. Watch how they worked together.
And the
LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying,
If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: (Leviticus 4:1-2) The law in the scriptures above is the commandments.
Notice something else very important in these two scriptures. It states, "if a soul shall sin through ignorance." Notice that the scripture did not says on purpose. Why? There is no sacrifice for a sin that is committed willfully. Let's find out what was to be done if a person committed a sin against the Lord unintentionally. Let's skip down to the 27th verse and take a look at the second law (which is the sacrificial law).
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against
any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath
sinned, come to his knowledge: then
he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the
priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the
altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. (Leviticus 4:27-30)
When the common people sinned through ignorance and it came to their knowledge, what did they have to do? They brought an offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for their sin which they had committed, then the priest would offer the animal to the Lord. Think about this for a moment. If an animal was killed for a person that committed sin, what will happen to us today if we a trespass against the Lord?
Now we see how the sacrificial law was used when a person broke a commandment unintentionally.
Let's go into Paul's writings and take another look at both of these laws. We will go into the Book of Galatians chapter 3. This is one of the chapters that the majority of Christian preachers use to do away with the Lord's commandments. Now, let's read carefully!
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)
Take heed to what Paul's says above, "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions." What is transgression?
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4) Transgression is braking of the commandments. What law was added because of the braking of the law? The sacrificial law! Paul is simply asking these Gentiles, "why perform the sacrificial law? It was added because of sin until the seed should come. Who is the seed?
Let's back up in this chapter and find out.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but
as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) Who is the SEED? CHRIST! So, this law was added (which is the sacrificial law) until Christ came. What was the sacrificial law used for until Christ came?
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
The sacrificial law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Before we continue, we must clear one thing up. Are we justified by faith alone? Let's see.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Romans 3:31) What law is established? Certainly not the sacrificial law, we have seen above that it was added because of transgression until the Seed came (which was Christ). The Royal law to be established forever which are the Ten Lords commandments!
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