Author name: Ed Urzi

“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips” (Romans 3:13).

The Apostle Paul drew upon some vivid Old Testament imagery as he evaluated the characteristics of unrepentant humanity in Romans 3:10-18. However, verse thirteen contains some of the most graphic portrayals of the human condition in this portion of Scripture. The first (and most disturbing) of those portraits compares the human throat to an “open sepulchre” (KJV).

A contemporary rendering of this passage ties these metaphors together: “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave” (NLT). This characterization is reminiscent of Jesus’ assessment of Israel’s corrupt spiritual leadership…

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25-28).

Then, as now, burial chambers were sealed to contain the stench of the dead. In fact, Martha of Bethany voiced her concern regarding that very prospect right before Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. When taken together, this imagery accurately reflects the way some people express themselves. Unfortunately, we need only spend some time in the workplace, the market, the airport, the train station, or any place where people gather to verify the general truth of this passage: “What comes out of their mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse” (Voice).

In addition, modern-day audio/visual platforms offer fertile ground for pundits, commentators, influencers, and content creators to validate this description from Romans 3:18. Our contemporary social media landscape also offers compelling evidence to support this verse. As any participant in today’s social media environment is undoubtedly aware, these unmoderated forums provide ample opportunity for participants to verify the truth of this passage through personal attacks, hostile criticisms, and hateful, malevolent comments.

If we ever feel inclined to dismiss this characterization of unregenerate humanity from Romans 3:13, the current state of social media should quickly dispel that notion. That brings us to another relevant quote from Jesus…

“…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him” (Matthew 12:34-35).

“Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one” (Romans 3:12 TLB).

Despite the discouraging assessment of human nature presented to us here in Romans 3:11-12, there is cause for hope. That hope is found in the Biblical encouragement to pray…

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 AMP).

We find similar encouragements in Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 4:2, and 1 Thessalonians 5:17. But even though God’s Word counsels us to pray on behalf of others, does prayer actually change God’s mind concerning the things we pray for?

The answer is “no,” for God is omniscient, and an all-knowing Being cannot change His mind. Since God knows all that He will or will not do, our prayers cannot change His mind. However, consider the insights offered by the following author…

“The Bible says there are certain things God has decreed from all eternity. Those things will inevitably come to pass. If you were to pray individually or if you and I were to join forces in prayer or if all the Christians of the world were to pray collectively, it would not change what God, in His hidden counsel, has determined to do.

…When God hangs His sword of judgment over people’s heads, and they repent and He then withholds His judgment, has He really changed His mind? The mind of God does not change for God does not change. Things change, and they change according to His sovereign will, which He exercises through secondary means and secondary activities. The prayer of His people is one of the means He uses to bring things to pass in this world. So if you ask me whether prayer changes things, I answer with an unhesitating ‘Yes!’” ₍₁₎

This is exactly how God promised to interact with human beings who live in this temporal world (see Ezekiel 33:14-16, 19). So, while it may seem as if we are not having much of an impact for God, our prayerful influence may be more significant than we realize. For example, how do you know that others have not been rescued from harm because of your Godly influence? How do you know that God has not spared others from serious misfortune because you were diligent to pray for them?

How do you know that you are not one of those secondary means that God intends to bring about His will in the lives of others? Whenever you pray (or have prayed), you can rest assured that God knew what you were going to pray- and perhaps He may have ordained your prayer as the means of accomplishing His purpose in someone else’s life.

(1) Does prayer change God’s mind? (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/does-prayer-change-gods-mind [emphasis added]

“All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one” (Romans 3:12 HCSB).

Most definitions of “good” depend on someone’s interpretation of that word according to its context. However, a few personalized questions can help determine if human beings are really in the best position to serve as independent arbiters of moral goodness. For instance…

• Have you ever had an intense desire to possess someone or something that belonged to someone else?
• Have you ever told a lie?
• Have you ever stolen anything, even something small or inconsequential?
• Have you ever been involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship in thought or deed?
• Have you ever ended the life of another human being without just cause, either in thought or deed?
• Have you always honored your parents or guardians without fail?
• Have you always set apart one day a week to honor God?
• Have you ever referenced God in a frivolous, inappropriate, or disrespectful manner?
• Has there ever been a person, object, or possession that you loved, respected, or feared more than God?
• Has anything ever taken the place of God as the first priority in your life?

As some may have guessed, these questions represent an inverted list that rephrases the Ten Commandments from Exodus chapter twenty. This list is inverted because the second table of the commandments seems to be the relatively “easy” ones to keep. Yet how many of us have failed to keep the least of those commandments?

Jesus went through a similar exercise with the rich young ruler of Mark chapter ten. When the man asked Jesus, “…what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” He responded by saying…

“‘You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy'” (Mark 10:17-20 NIV).

This man must have thought, “I’ve lived an exemplary life. I’ve never murdered anyone. I don’t cheat on my wife. I don’t steal from anyone. I’m not a liar and I always treat my parents with respect.” But it was not until Jesus said, “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor…” (Mark 10:21 GNT) that the truth was revealed: “…the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions” (Mark 10:22 CEB).

This response exposed the rich young ruler’s affinity for material wealth. Even though he thought he was following the Commandments, he was actually guilty of violating the very first one: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). His response thus serves to illustrate our text from Romans 3:12: “…there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (KJV).

“All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12 ESV).

As mentioned earlier, there are undoubtedly many who believe that human depravity is solely (or principally) attributable to environmental factors, circumstantial elements, or economic causes. The idea is that the inherent goodness of humanity would shine forth if one could remove those negative attributes. While we should not ignore those factors and their potential contributions to human evil, that belief is neither supported by the Scriptures or real-world experience.

For example, even a very young child can exhibit things like greed, selfishness, envy, and a variety of similar behaviors. While children are often a source of great joy, virtually every parent knows this: a child doesn’t need to be taught how to lie or act deceptively. In addition, a young child doesn’t need to be prompted to say things like “Gimme,” “Mine,” or “No!” Those unfortunate realities do not change as we grow older; we simply become better at masking them.

In addition to what we read here in Romans 3:12, the Scriptures identify the root cause of such behaviors in a well-known passage from Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jesus also provided us with insight into this subject when He said, “…what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person…” (Mathew 15:18-20 ESV).

This reference to having become “worthless” or “unprofitable” in Romans 3:12 originates in a word that offers a descriptive word-picture: “to go bad, [to] become sour like milk.” ₍₁₎ One source offers an uncompromising assessment of this idea…

“While man looks upon the outward acts and judges them to be good, God looks upon not only the outward acts but also the inward motives that lie behind them, and because they proceed from a heart that is in rebellion against Him and they are not done for His glory, even these good deeds are like ‘filthy rags’ in His sight. In other words, fallen man’s good deeds are motivated not by a desire to please God but by our own self-interest and are thus corrupted to the point where God declares that there is ‘no one who does good, no not one!'” ₍₂₎

As another author reminds us…

“Good is a relative term. It is defined against some standard. If we establish what that standard is, we can congratulate ourselves and take comfort in our attainment of it. But if God establishes the standard, and His standard includes outward behavior (that our actions conform perfectly to His law) and internal motivation (that all our acts proceed from a heart that loves Him perfectly), then we quickly see that our pretended ‘goodness’ is no goodness at all.” ₍₃₎

(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Romans 3:10-12] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

(2) GotQuestions.org. (2022, January 4). GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/total-depravity.html

(3) None Righteous by R.C. Sproul. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/none-righteous

“They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12).

The Biblical book of Ezekiel offers a true-to-life illustration of Romans 3:12 along with a contemporary application. A selected portion of that Scripture begins as God reveals some disturbing truths to Ezekiel that would have ordinarily remained hidden from him…

“Then he brought me to the door of the Temple courtyard, where I could see a hole in the wall. He said to me, ‘Now, son of man, dig into the wall.’ So I dug into the wall and found a hidden doorway. ‘Go in,’ he said, ‘and see the wicked and detestable sins they are committing in there!’ So I went in and saw the walls covered with engravings of all kinds of crawling animals and detestable creatures. I also saw the various idols worshiped by the people of Israel…

Then the Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; he has deserted our land!’” (Ezekiel 8:7-10, 12 NLT).

But there was more to come…

“Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. At the entrance to the sanctuary, between the entry room and the bronze altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs to the sanctuary of the Lord. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun!” (Ezekiel 8:16 NLT).

The “inner courtyard of the Temple” suggests this meeting comprised a group of spiritual leaders who had turned their backs on God. However, such things had not escaped God’s notice…

“‘Have you seen this, son of man?’ he asked. ‘Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger? Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen'” (Ezekiel 8:17-18 NLT).

Ezekiel’s experience illustrates what God sees when He looks into the hearts and minds of unrepentant human beings. While a casual observer might not perceive such issues, God saw the truth of those behaviors with absolute clarity. In a similar manner, a seemingly earnest quest for God may be corrupted by motives that are clearly visible to our Creator but may remain hidden from us.

This sheds light upon our text from Romans 3:12: “All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one” (NLT). It also explains King’s Solomon’s pointed observation from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes: “Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead” (Ecclesiastes 9:3).

“there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11 NET).

If no one seeks God (as we are told here in Romans 3:11), then how can we account for those who seem to be doing so? One author addresses that question in a lengthy quote that merits our attention…

“[The medieval theologian] Thomas Aquinas was asked on one occasion why there seem to be non-Christians who are searching for God, when the Bible says that no one seeks after God in an unconverted state. Aquinas replied that we see people all around us who are feverishly seeking for purpose in their lives, pursuing happiness, and looking for relief from guilt to silence the pangs of conscience.

We see people searching for the things that we know can be found only in Christ, but we make the gratuitous assumption that because they are seeking the benefits of God, they must therefore be seeking God. That is the very dilemma of fallen creatures: we want the things that only God can give us, but we do not want Him. We want peace but not the Prince of Peace. We want purpose but not the sovereign purposes decreed by God. We want meaning found in ourselves but not in His rule over us.

We see desperate people, and we assume that they are seeking for God, but they are not seeking for God. I know that because God says so. No one seeks after God… Yet it is important to remember the distinction between seeking after God and seeking after His benefits. Jesus promises Christians that all things are added to us when we seek the kingdom first (Matt. 6:33), but let us be careful that we are seeking for the right reasons.” ₍₁₎

Thus, if someone is genuinely seeking God, we can be assured he or she is doing so because God initiated that search (John 14:6, John 6:44, John 6:65). While these passages inevitably prompt a discussion related to God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, the Biblical teaching concerning this subject is clear: God chooses, and human beings each choose in the matter of salvation. As one source explains…

“From the word translated chosen (ekloge) comes the English ‘election.’ That God has chosen to bless some individuals with eternal life is clearly taught in many places in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., Deu_4:37; Deu_7:6-7; Isa_44:1-2; Rom_9:1-33; Eph_1:4-6, Eph_1:11; Col_3:12; 2Th_2:13).

Equally clear is the fact that God holds each individual personally responsible for his decision to trust or not to trust in Jesus Christ (cf. Joh_3:1-36; Rom_5:1-21). The difficulty in putting divine election and human responsibility together is understanding how both can be true. That both are true is taught in the Bible. How both can be true is apparently incomprehensible to finite human minds; no one has ever been able to explain this antinomy satisfactorily.” ₍₂₎

(1) Sproul, R. C. The Power of the Gospel: A Year in Romans. Ligonier Ministries, 2024. pp. 70-71

(2) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary, note on 1 Thessalonians 1:4 pg. 691

“no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:11).

While the meaning of this passage is relatively straightforward, it presents us with several implications that may be difficult to accept. This verse confronts the stark reality of the human condition; thus, it requires careful thought and a commitment to follow the truth where it leads. To begin, let’s consider the spiritual underpinnings of Romans 3:11…

“Before Adam sinned, he had fellowship with God. We see Adam standing in the presence of God, wherein God speaks to him (Gen. 2:15–17). After Adam sins, however, he tries to hide himself from God (3:8). This is true of every fallen child of Adam. Even though he knows God’s ‘invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature…in the things that have been made,’ he turns his thoughts and worship to dead idols rather than to the living God. This is why the Scripture says ‘no one seeks for God’ (Rom. 3:11) and ‘the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God’ (8:7).” ₍₁₎

However, this does not mean we are incapable of seeking God. Indeed, the Scriptures encourage us to do so in both the Old and New Testaments…

“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

The problem is that a religious pursuit does not automatically mean that one is seeking God. For instance, some who appear to be searching for God may only be seeking a “higher power” that aligns with their preferences and imposes no obligations upon them. In fact, Paul the Apostle spent the second half of Romans chapter one exploring that very subject.

Another source examines the question of motive by turning to the spiritual leadership of first-century Israel as an example…

“Knowing what the scripture says is one thing; following on to know the Lord is another. Since the Jews were not seeking after God, what was the point of all their study? Christ himself pinpointed the trouble: it was this, that they desired the praise of men rather than the praise of God (John 12:43). Christ said, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15). Moreover, they did not seek to glorify God, but only to glorify one another (John 5:44).” ₍₂₎

We’ll consider the challenging ramifications of this passage next.

(1) Paradise created by Guy Waters. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/paradise-created

(2) Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on Romans 3”. “Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible”. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/romans-3.html. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.

“as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one'” (Romans 3:10 ESV).

A common thread runs through the appraisal that begins here in Romans 3:10 and continues into verse eighteen. That thread involves various aspects of the human body. For instance, the throat, tongue, and lips are mentioned in Romans 3:13. A reference to the mouth appears in verse fourteen, while the feet and eyes are noted in verses fifteen and eighteen.

These characteristics of human behavior are far from trivial, for they serve to illustrate the extent of human unrighteousness. For instance, our text from this portion of Romans is strikingly similar to the depiction of humanity that defined the era immediately preceding Noah’s flood…

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:5-6).

The following commentators offer some additional insight concerning this passage and the verses that follow…

“It is a terrible description of human nature in its Christless state. Vaughan has pointed out that these Old Testament quotations describe three things. (i) A character whose characteristics are ignorance, indifference, crookedness and unprofitableness. (ii) A tongue whose notes are destructive, deceitful, malignant. (iii) A conduct whose marks are oppression, injuriousness, implacability. These things are the result of disregard of God.” ₍₁₎

So, these verses present us with a stark depiction of the human race, an image of humanity that is not as it should be. We can attribute that condition to an internal human nature that naturally rebels against its Creator’s desires and the external actions that follow as a result. Consider the following description given to us in Romans 3:11…

“There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is quoted as saying, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will rise him up in the last day” (John 6:44). In John 14:6, He added, “…’I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” In light of these Scriptures, we should be diligent to pray that God will draw others to Christ. If left to ourselves, Romans 3:11 tells us there are none who will seek after Him.

We’ll explore the ramifications of Romans 3:11 at greater length in our next study.

(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on Romans 2”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-2.html. 1956-1959.

“As it is written: ‘there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

“To err is human.”

“Nobody’s perfect.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

These maxims underscore the disparity between the ideal and the reality of human behavior. Because these truisms are so deeply ingrained and widely acknowledged as fundamental truths of human existence, we often miss their true significance: they reflect a universal admission that something is seriously amiss in basic human nature…

“Besides the feelings of guilt that people experience and to which we can appeal, there is also the proverbial wisdom of mankind that includes within it a recognition that something is objectively wrong with people.

Think of the familiar saying ‘nobody’s perfect.’ Although in itself this phrase does not acknowledge the law of the Lord, it recognizes that there is an ideal that no one meets. It recognizes that there is some kind of objective rule of perfection known to all people but that no one has ever actually fulfilled this standard.” ₍₁₎

Beginning here in Romans 3:10, Paul the Apostle will turn once again to the Old Testament Scriptures to support that premise. In doing so, he will draw upon several adaptations of various Old Testament Scriptures, including Psalms 5:9, Psalms 10:7, Psalms 14:3, Psalms 36:1, Psalms 53:3, Psalms 140:3, Isaiah 59:7-8, Ecclesiastes 7:20, and Proverbs 1:16. What follows over the next eight verses represents one of the most brutally honest assessments of human nature in all Scripture.

For instance, consider the first statement in this series: “…there is none righteous, no, not one.” This portion of Scripture alludes to Psalm 53:3…

“Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”

There are undoubtedly many who believe that human beings are essentially good at heart and that negative behaviors typically arise from external factors like social or environmental influences. Of course, most human beings are likely to be “good people” insofar as they are not deliberately wicked, cruel, or ruthless. It’s also true that social and environmental factors often exert a considerable influence on one’s conduct for better or worse.

But as much as we might like to think of ourselves as “good people,” this passage tells us something different. Our text from Romans 3:10 states that all human beings (even the “good” ones) are unrighteous. In the words of one commentary on Romans 3:10-18, “Paul uses these Old Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God. Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘Well, I’m not too bad. I’m a pretty good person’? Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.” ₍₂₎

(1) Missing the Mark (2014, May 26). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/missing-mark

(2) Life Application Study Bible NKJV [Romans 3:10-18] Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004 by Tyndale House Publishers Inc., all rights reserved.

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9).

The Apostle Paul continued to engage his audience in Romans 3:9 with a summary question: “If being a Jew has many advantages, does it mean that we Jews are better than those who are not?”

We can address that question in the following way. While the Jewish people were privileged to receive God’s Word (verse two), God would not refrain from judging them if they chose to dismiss Him like the non-Jewish populations of the world (collectively referred to as the Greeks). One source illustrates this idea with an interesting analogy…

“The Christian is no better than a non-Christian, but he is infinitely better off. It is like two men on a plane, one of whom is wearing a parachute while the other is not. Neither is better than the other, but the man with the parachute is certainly better off than the man who is not wearing a parachute. The difference will be seen when they jump from the plane at 20,000 feet.” ₍₁₎

Of course, the advantage of having a parachute assumes that one will pull the ripcord and deploy the parachute when exiting the plane at 20,000 feet. Unfortunately, the Jewish people had many God-given advantages but failed to deploy them through unbelief. Thus, they are in no better position than anyone else from that perspective.

In further stating that all people are all under sin, this passage from Romans 3:9 does not mean that human beings are totally incapable of moral good. Indeed, we applaud those among us who are selfless, virtuous, charitable, and benevolent. We rightfully commend the bravery of a firefighter who dashes into a burning building to rescue the helpless from certain death. We are thankful for many others like trustworthy neighbors, helpful bystanders, and public-spirited community members.

However, genuine goodness is measured against God’s holy character. As Jesus told the rich young ruler of Mark chapter ten, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18 CSB). When we measure our goodness against God’s perfect standard, humanity falls woefully short. Therefore, we should not assume that we, or others, are in good standing with the Almighty simply because we are nice, good people. In fact, Paul will disabuse us of that notion entirely in Romans 3:23.

While there are likely to be many who perceive themselves to be “good people” who haven’t really done anything wrong or offensive to God, this passage from Romans 3:9 reminds us that all “…are under the control of sin and subject to its power” (AMP).

(1) The Evidence Bible [note on Romans 3:9] Bridge-Logos Publishers 2011