The Purpose and Limitation of the Law
Main Idea of Galatians:
To defend the gospel of grace as the sole basis for justification and Christian living, to assert the believer’s freedom from legalism through faith in Christ, and to call believers back to the truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
What question does Paul raise in verse 19 regarding the purpose of the law?
According to Paul, what was the law added because of? Until when was it intended to last?
Who was the law put in place through? What is the significance of this?
How does Paul contrast the law with the promise in terms of God’s direct interaction?
What does Paul mean by stating that Scripture imprisoned everything under sin? What was the result of this?
The Text:
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
– Galatians 3:19-22 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 19: Paul poses the question of the law’s purpose. He states it was added due to transgressions and was temporary, lasting until the promised offspring (Christ) came. He also notes it was mediated.
Verse 20: He highlights that a mediator implies multiple parties, contrasting with God’s singular nature in the promise.
Verse 21: Paul refutes the idea that the law opposes God’s promises, stating that if the law could give life, righteousness would come through it.
Verse 22: He explains that Scripture confined everything under sin to make the promise by faith in Christ available to believers.
Interpretation:
The Purpose of the Law (v. 19): Paul anticipates a natural question arising from his argument about the priority of the promise: “Why then the law?” If justification comes through faith in the promise given to Abraham, what was the point of the law given centuries later? Paul answers that the law “was added because of transgressions.” This doesn’t mean the law caused sin, but rather it was given to define sin, to reveal its extent, and to restrain it until the coming of the promised “offspring,” who is Christ. The law’s duration was temporary, intended to last until Christ’s arrival, the one to whom the promises ultimately pointed. Furthermore, the law was “put in place through angels by an intermediary,” referring to Moses at Mount Sinai, highlighting that the giving of the law was a mediated event. As Moo notes in his commentary on Galatians (BECNT), the law served as a temporary measure until the fulfillment of the promise in Christ.
The Mediated Law Versus the Direct Promise (v. 20): Paul contrasts the mediated nature of the law with the directness of God’s promise to Abraham. “Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.” The very need for a mediator (Moses, representing both God and the people) indicates a separation between God and humanity under the law. The promise to Abraham, however, was a direct, unilateral act of God’s grace. This contrast underscores the different nature of the two covenants: the law involving conditions and mediation, the promise being unconditional and directly from God. Schreiner (ZECNT) emphasizes this distinction, highlighting the personal and direct nature of God’s covenant with Abraham.
The Law’s Limitation (v. 21-22): Paul addresses a potential misunderstanding: “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not!” The law wasn’t intended to nullify the promise. Its purpose was different. Paul explains that “if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.” However, the law’s very nature as a set of commands that humans are incapable of perfectly fulfilling meant it could not impart life or righteousness. Instead, “the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin.” The law’s role was to expose sin and demonstrate humanity’s universal guilt and inability to meet God’s standards. This confinement under sin created the necessity for the promise by faith in Jesus Christ to be given to those who believe. Carson in the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB) points out that the law served to highlight our sinfulness and our need for God’s saving grace.
Application:
Recognize the Purpose of God’s Standards: Understand that God’s commands, while unable to save us, reveal the depth of our sin and our need for a Savior. Don’t view them as a means to earn God’s favor, but as a mirror reflecting our inadequacy.
Embrace the Superiority of God’s Promise: Rest in the assurance that God’s promise through faith in Christ is the only way to true righteousness and life. Though our obedience to God is important, don’t place your hope in your ability to perfectly obey.
Appreciate the Glory of the New Covenant: Recognize that the Old Covenant, with its mediation and temporary nature, served to point towards the better covenant established in Christ, a covenant of direct access to God through faith and the indwelling Spirit.
Live in Light of Christ’s Fulfillment: Understand that with the coming of Christ, the temporary role of the law as a guardian has come to an end. Live in the freedom and grace provided through faith in Him.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage is crucial for Paul’s defense of the gospel of grace. By explaining the limited and temporary purpose of the law – to reveal sin and highlight humanity’s need – Paul reinforces that justification cannot come through obedience to the law. Instead, it underscores the necessity of the promise received by faith in Christ, which was established prior to the law.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
The law’s temporary nature, lasting “until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made,” directly points to Christ as the fulfillment of that promise. The law served as a signpost, highlighting humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness on its own and thus creating the need for the Savior promised to Abraham. White in his Galatians: A Theological Interpretation (GTI) notes that the law’s role as a temporary guardian underscores the anticipation of the coming of Christ, in whom the true means of righteousness would be revealed.
Summary:
Galatians 3:19-22 explains that the law was a temporary addition due to transgressions, mediated through angels and an intermediary. It reveals sin and demonstrates humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness through obedience. This creates the necessary context for the promise received by faith in Christ to be the sole means of justification.
Be Intentional:
Reflect on how the law, even with its good intentions, ultimately reveals our inadequacy before God. Consider how this understanding deepens your appreciation for the grace offered in Christ.
Ask Yourself:
Do I sometimes still try to earn God’s favor by following rules and regulations? How does this passage challenge that tendency?
How does understanding the temporary nature of the law affect my view of its role in God’s plan?
In what ways does the law highlight my need for Christ as the fulfillment of the promise?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony & Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Galatians (CCE) (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary).
Moo, Douglas J. Galatians (BECNT) (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians (ZECNT) (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians.
White, A. Blake. Galatians: A Theological Interpretation (GTI).
