The law was given to Israel alone, but its condemning authority applies to everyone.
Under the law were the Jewish people, and God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law. Yet Romans 3:19 shows the law's intended reach: "every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." So the law reaches every human being—not to save anyone, but to bring the knowledge of sin and show everyone guilty.
Romans 3:19 — States that the law was spoken to those under it, but its result is that every mouth is stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God.
Romans 3:20 — Declares that no flesh is justified by the deeds of the law and that the law gives the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:9 — Confirms that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, showing there is no difference in their standing before God.
Romans 2:12 — Shows that those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law, making the law's judgment universal for those who had it.
Romans 3:19 addresses the question directly: "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." The law is spoken to those under it, yet the stopping of every mouth and the guilt of all the world go far beyond that original audience. Romans 3:20 then defines the law's purpose: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Justification is not obtained by law-keeping. The law brings the knowledge of sin. Scripture also says there is no difference in mankind's standing: both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (Romans 3:9). Romans 2:12 warns that those who sinned under the law shall be judged by the law.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the whole system of law was given to the nation of Israel, and the Jews alone were literally under it. God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law or have temple worship (Clip 2). But, he argues, the law's power did not stop at Israel. The same passage that places Israel under the law goes on to say that every mouth in the whole human race may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God (Clips 1, 3). Les says the law—especially the moral law, the Ten Commandments—reaches out to every last human being, but not to save, because it couldn't save a Jew either. Its only job was to condemn and to reveal guilt (Clips 4, 7). By the law comes the knowledge of sin, not the knowledge of salvation (Clip 7). He also stresses that there is no difference before God between Jew and Gentile; both share the old Adamic nature and are under sin (Clips 0, 6).
Les Feldick is clear: only the nation of Israel was literally under the law. God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law or practice temple worship. Yet the law did not stop with Israel—it reached out to every last human being so that every mouth would be stopped and all the world would become guilty before God (Romans 3:19).
The law was never intended to save anyone, not even a Jew. It could do nothing to help a person keep it or to stop stealing, adultery, or any other sin. All it could do was point the finger and say guilty. Romans 3:20 confirms that by the deeds of the law no flesh is justified; the law gives the knowledge of sin, not a way to heaven.
Les Feldick says there is no difference. The old Adamic nature is as evident in the son of Abraham as in a Gentile. A Jew cannot come before God on covenant grounds and claim his Jewishness; God sees him as no different from a Gentile. The same is true for white and black, yellow and brown, rich and poor—no difference.
Jews and Gentiles Share the Same Old Adamic Nature
Paul concludes that the Jew is no different from the Gentile; both are under the control of the old Adam and equally under sin.
The Law Speaks to All After Israel
Even though the law was addressed to those under it—Israel—Paul extends the result to every mouth and the whole world, making all guilty rather than righteous.
Law Given to Jews, but Condemns the Whole Human Race
Only Israel was literally under the law; God didn't expect Gentiles to keep it, yet the law stops every mouth and makes the world guilty.
The Law's Power Goes Beyond Israel
The law speaks to Jews, but its force reaches the entire human race so all the world becomes guilty before God; no flesh is justified by deeds of the law.
The Law Reaches Everybody to Condemn, Not to Save
The law was given to the Jew, but it reaches every last human being to condemn; it was never intended to save a Jew either.
All Who Have Broken the Law Are Condemned
Everyone who has sinned is judged under the law; it condemns everyone because every human being other than Christ has broken the law.
No Difference Between Jew and Gentile
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile before God; the Jew cannot come on covenant ground but must come by faith like everyone else.
The Law Only Condemns, It Cannot Justify
The law cannot help anyone keep it or stop sin; it only pronounces guilty, convicts Gentiles as thoroughly as Jews, and gives knowledge of sin, not salvation.
Romans 3:19: 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.
This verse directly answers the question by moving from Israel under the law to the whole world guilty before God.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This verse defines the law's purpose: it cannot justify; it brings the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:9: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
This verse establishes that Jews and Gentiles are in the same condition—under sin.
Romans 2:12: For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
This verse shows that those who had the law are judged by the law, and its condemnation is universal.
The law was given to the nation of Israel, and only Israel was under it. But its condemning authority applies to everyone: Romans 3:19 says every mouth is stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God. The law reaches all people to bring the knowledge of sin.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the law was never intended to save a Jew or a Gentile. Romans 3:20 says by the deeds of the law no flesh is justified; the law can only condemn and reveal sin.
No, only Israel was literally under the law. God did not expect Gentiles to keep the law. Yet the law's power extends past Israel, because every human being is guilty before God.
To stop every mouth and make the world guilty before God. It was not given to save people; it was given to bring the knowledge of sin and show that no one can be justified by law-keeping.
Watch the Teaching: Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?