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Q): Romans 2:13 states that by the works of the law no flesh will be justified yet Romans 3:20 says that the doers of the law shall be justified. Is this contradicting?

A): No, there is no contradiction. We know from the records of the Dead Sea Scrolls that the term “works of the law” refer to the animal sacrifices and also the physical requirements that one had to do to have their sin forgiven, such as performing a mikvah (ritual bath), etc.

Paul is stating that only the blood of Yahshua Messiah can justify us (make us right before Yahweh), not the animal sacrifices or our own restitution. However, once we are justified by the blood of the Messiah and made righteous before Yahweh by His sacrifice, not our own, we are required to STAY sanctified by keeping the Torah to the best of our abilities not to defile Messiah’s sacrifice. The Torah teaches us right from wrong and is a path to life. In Hebrew the better translation of Torah would be “instruction” and not simply law. If one does not continue in obedience to the Torah after we accept the sacrifice of Messiah, then we are no longer justified by the blood of Yahshua as we would be mocking His Spirit of grace by willfully sinning.

Heb 10:26 For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins,

Heb 10:27 but he is ready for the fearful judgment and “zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries.” (Isa 26:11)

Heb 10:28 For if he, who transgressed the law of Moses, died without mercies, at the mouth of two or three witnesses; (Deut 17:6)

Heb 10:29 how much worse punishment do you think will be thought worthy to receive, the one trampling the Son of YAHWEH, and having counted the blood of the covenant as common in which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of grace?

Heb 10:30 For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,” says YAHWEH. And again, “YAHWEH will judge His people.” (Deut 32:35, 36)

Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.

So where in Rom 3:20 it states the doers of the law will be justified, it really means will stay justified.