The Law is Not Contrary to The Promise

Galatians 3:23–29
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A duck hunter was with a friend in the wide-open land of southeastern Georgia. Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon he could hear crackling as the wind shifted. He realized the terrible truth; a brush fire was advancing, so fast they couldn’t outrun it. Rifli … More

Law

Paul continues his logical argument by spilling out briefly and clearly the purpose of the Law. First of all he says that before Christ we were kept under the Law which gives the idea of being surrounded and protected by prison guards (v. 23). He goes on to explain how the Law did not give life to Israel but it regulated life. He used the illustration of a child who has a private tutor (v.24-25). Many Greek and Roman families had older slaves who looked after their children and became the child’s disciplinarian. He was thought of as a and firm guide that would accompany the children wherever they went. Paul is saying that the Law is like a tutor “to lead us to Christ” (v.24). Before Christ, man was under the Law which was like a private tutor but now we belong to Christ and are in His family.

All who have trusted Christ are a child of God (v. 26). “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (v. 27). You do this the same way as you put on new clothes. The prison of law forced man to see himself as he really is. The tutor of the Law wouldn’t let him dodge the issues. Then the Saviour came along and liberated us. The Law separated Israel from the Gentile nations and governed every aspect of their lives. In their society slaves were considered to be only pieces of property; women were kept confined and Gentiles were constantly sneered at by the Jews. Then Jesus came, not to divide, but to unite. With Him we are completely equal (v. 28). The original promise to Abraham was intended for the whole world, not just for his descendants (Gen. 12:3). All believers are included in this promise (v. 29).