The Law is Not Contrary to The Promise
June 26, 2024
Commentary
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).
Application
I am thankful that the law acted like a private tutor to lead me to Christ. The Law forced me to see Christ as He really is.
Galatians 3:23– 29 (NET)
23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female —for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
Illustration: Christ’s Death Has Disarmed The Brush Fire
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. Rifling through his pockets, he soon found what he was looking for-a book of matches. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the fire to come. They didn’t have to wait long. They covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and braced themselves. The fire came near and swept over them. But they were completely unhurt, untouched. Fire would not pass where fire already had passed. The law is like a brush fire. I cannot escape it. But if I stand in the burned-over place, not a hair of my head will be singed. Christ’s death has disarmed it. (Adapted from Who Will Deliver Us? by Paul F. M. Zahl).