The Jew — the nation of Israel — was under the law; the Gentiles never were.
Les Feldick points to Romans 3:19, which speaks of 'them who are under the law,' and identifies them as Israel. God gave Israel the whole system of law — moral, civil, and ceremonial — and never expected the Gentiles to keep it. Yet the law given to Israel also served to stop every mouth and make the whole world guilty before God.
Romans 3:19 — This verse directly names 'them who are under the law' and shows the law was given to stop every mouth and bring the whole world under guilt.
Romans 3:19 states plainly: "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 verse names a specific group — "them who are under the law" — and then shows the law's words were not confined to that group. The purpose was that every mouth would be stopped and all the world would become guilty before God. The law itself was given to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 20:1-2, God speaks to the people He brought out of Egypt and begins delivering the Ten Commandments. Romans 3:20 then explains the law's function: "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."
Les gives a direct answer: the Jew — the nation of Israel — was the only people group literally under the law. "Who's under the law? Israel," he says in Clip 4, and in Clip 6 he repeats: "Of all the peoples of the earth, there was only one group of people who were literally under the law. Who was it? The Jew. That's all." God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law or to have temple worship. But Les stresses Paul's point that the law's power didn't stop with Israel. The law was given so that "every mouth may be stopped" and "all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). So although Israel alone was given the law, the law's condemning effect reached the whole human race, and by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (Clips 4, 5, 6). Les also clarifies what Israel was under: the whole system of law, not just the Ten Commandments. He breaks the law into three parts — the moral law (the Ten Commandments), the civil law, and the ecclesiastical or ceremonial law connected to worship, the priesthood, and the tabernacle (Clips 1, 3, 7). He urges careful reading of the word "law" to determine whether a passage means the whole system or only the Ten Commandments (Clip 2).
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that the Gentiles never were under the law. He says plainly: "Who's under the law? Israel. The Gentiles never were" (Clip 4). God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law or to have temple worship (Clip 6). Yet because the law was given to Israel "that every mouth may be stopped," it still brought all the world, including the Gentiles, under guilt before God.
Israel was under the whole system of law, which Les breaks into three parts: the moral law (the Ten Commandments), the civil law (how neighbors resolved disputes, made compensation, and handled society's affairs such as land transfers), and the ecclesiastical or ceremonial law connected with worship — the rituals, regulations, the priesthood, and the tabernacle. All three parts were given to Israel at Mount Sinai (Clips 1, 3, 7). Les advises students to determine from the text whether the word "law" refers to the whole system or only the Ten Commandments (Clip 2).
Les shows from Romans 3:19-20 that the law's purpose was not to save. The law was given to them who are under the law so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified," and "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). Les calls the law "a ministration of death" in this regard — it was never given to justify anyone, Jew or Gentile.
The Whole Human Race Guilty
Les shows how Paul established the guilt of the whole human race — the immoral, the moral, and the religious — before reaching the conclusion in Romans 3:19 that the law speaks to those under the law.
Israel Given the Whole System of Law
Les explains that after giving the Ten Commandments, God gave Israel the whole system of law, including the moral law and the civil law that governed daily life such as compensation for a neighbor's damaged grain.
Civil Law and Interpreting the Word 'Law'
Les describes what the civil law covered — neighbor relations, land transfers, and society's affairs — and urges readers to determine whether 'law' in any passage means the whole system or only the Ten Commandments.
The Three Parts of the Law
Les places Israel at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 before the giving of the law and breaks the law into three parts: the moral law, the ecclesiastical law of worship, and the civil law.
Israel Was Under the Law
Les answers the question directly — 'Who's under the law? Israel' — and explains that the law's power extended so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.
The Law Given to Israel, But Controlling All Mankind
Les notes the law was specifically given to them who were under the law, yet Paul says all the world might be brought under its guilt, so the law still has control over the whole human race.
Only the Jew Was Literally Under the Law
Les is emphatic that of all the peoples of the earth, only the Jew was literally under the law; God did not expect the Gentiles to keep the law, yet the law stopped every mouth and condemned the whole human race.
The Religious System of the Law
Les shows that the law given to Israel extended beyond the Ten Commandments to include rituals, civil regulations, priesthood stipulations, and the building of the tabernacle.
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 is the central verse identifying the group 'under the law' and showing the law's purpose of making 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.
Shows that Israel being under the law did not mean they could be justified by it; the law instead brought the knowledge of sin.
Exodus 20:1: And God spake all these words, saying,
Marks the moment God began delivering the Ten Commandments to Israel, the people brought out of Egypt.
Exodus 20:2: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Identifies the LORD as the God who brought Israel out of Egypt, establishing that the law was given specifically to Israel.
Israel was under the law. Les Feldick is emphatic that of all the peoples of the earth, only the Jew was literally under the law, and God never expected the Gentiles to keep it. Yet the law given to Israel still rendered the whole world guilty before God according to Romans 3:19.
Israel was under the whole system of law, which Les breaks into three parts: the moral law (the Ten Commandments), the civil law, and the ecclesiastical or ceremonial law covering worship, the priesthood, rituals, and the tabernacle.
Because the law was given to Israel so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Although Israel alone had the law, its condemning power reached the entire human race, and by the deeds of the law no flesh is justified.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained