We come to the part of Galatians that seems quite meaty but is also highly technical. In today's study, we seek to answer 3 questions from this section of Galatians:
What is the law?
What is the purpose of the law?
How does understanding the purpose of the law lead us to think about God?
(A) What was the Purpose of the Law? To make known our sin and highlight our need for a Saviour.
The law was added because of transgressions, so that the sinfulness of man might be revealed.
Before we go any further, it would be useful to clarify what is this law that we're speaking about. What is this Law? It refers to the first 5 books, and God gave these these instructions and decrees to Moses to communicate to His people. These 5 books are commonly referred to as the “Pentateuch”, literally “5 scrolls” in Greek, or the Torah as the Jews know it. These were given given so that Israel may be set apart as a holy nation unto God! Paul tells us that the law is good and holy (Rom 7:12) but it also was a standard that humans could not attain. The Law required complete and absolute obedience from the people of Israel. The law has no power to give life.
Based on Paul’s reasoning up to Gal 3:18, the people might be tempted to think: they know Paul’s testimony, there’s no other gospel, the law cannot justify. So, why did God give the law to the people of Israel? What was it’s purpose? This was the main question that Paul sought to answer in this section of his letter to the Galatians.
Paul tells us a few things about the law in Gal 3:19. It tells us why the law was given, when it was given and also how it was.
Why was the law given? "It was added because of transgressions ..." (Gal 3:19a).
To transgress is to overstep or exceed a boundary, to violate a law, command or moral code. Therefore, transgressions refer to the act of going against this standard. You can’t transgress against yourself, but it has to be against someone. If we apply it to the Bible, it means to sin and it is directed against the law of God.
So, did the law come first, or did transgression? Rom 3:20 and Rom 4:15 tell us that the law brings knowledge of sin, and shows us our transgression. Therefore, the law turned previously invisible sin visible by means of the law. The law reveals our sins to us and shows us who we really are! It also shows us God’s holy and perfect character.
The phrase "because of" in the verse could mean either the cause or the purpose. It could mean that the law was added to restrain the deeds and sins of man. This sounds plausible because we knew that evil was in the earth and the evil was continually in their hearts (Gen 6:5). It could also mean that the law was also added for the purpose of something. Rom 5:20 tells us that the law “increased the trespass”. But that is not all. “But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”. There is grace greater than all our sins. Paul speaks with full apostolic authority here. Hold on to this assurance! We know we will never be sinless on this side of eternity, but we never run out of God’s grace. Grace exists not as a license to sin, but an avenue to Jesus Christ.
When was the law given? "... until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made..." (Gal 3:19b)
The use of the word "added" in the previous phrase indicated that something existed before the law was, well, added. There was a starting point. If we read Gal 3:17, we know that the law followed something that happened previously, and it was an addition to the Abrahamic covenant. There was a beginning, but the use of the word "until" also implies a point of completion.
Thus, the law had a temporary function. We also know that it is to exist until the Messiah came to the descendants of Abraham, to fulfill the promise made to Abraham.
How was the law given? "... and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary".
This intermediary was Moses, and the OT describes for us Moses' actions and roles as this intermediary. Moses was a mediator between the people and God (c.f. Exo 18:14-16). Moses pleads with God after the Golden Calf (C.f. Exo 32). Here, Paul also specifically referred to Moses’ role of putting the law in place.
Gal 3:20 goes on to talk more about this intermediary. An intermediary works and is engaged between more than 1 person. We know that the Law required a mediator, and involved 2 parties — God and the people. Perhaps angelic beings were involved, but at least, 2 people were involved. This we can be sure about. What did Paul mean when he suddenly mentioned “God is one”? It may be useful to think about the law in relation to the promise. While the law was put in place by an intermediary, the promise was given by God Himself. God did everything Himself — the giving of the promise, and also effected the fulfilment of the promise.
Therefore, we can understand Gal 3:20 in this way: the promise did not require mediation, because it depended solely on God alone. God promised, He will keep it. We cannot add to it or change it. This tells us who God is, what God has said He will do, and what He has done. In Gal 3:21, Paul goes on to passionately and categorically state that the law is not contrary to the promises of God! The law was not given to give life, and righteousness was not from the law. The law focuses on the duty of man and is dependent on obedience. The rests solely on God’s sovereignty and His blessings.
(B) What is the purpose of the Law? To imprison everything under sin and point the way to a Saviour
The law was given to imprison everything under sin, so that the only way out would be through a sinless Saviour.
After declaring that the law did not give life (Gal 3:21), Paul also goes on to describe how the law "imprisoned everything under sin" (Gal 3:22). The law was all encompassing and complete in its reach. Nothing was outside the reach of the law. Also, because of our sin, the law closed off all avenues to righteousness and life. It is that we will know that we cannot save ourselves! The Abrahamic covenant promised a blessing, but at the same time, the Mosaic law revealed the curse. The law is a prison, therefore, everything we do seems to bring about the closing in of the walls and a crushing weight of guilt. As pastor and Bible teacher John MacArthur described it,
The law was given to do, to tighten the screws on the sins of men, that in anguish, they might cry out for a deliverer.
The law was given to help us see that we were trapped in a prison, and the only way out of the prison is the grace available through the promise by faith.
(C) What is the purpose of the Law? To hold our conscience captive until the coming of the Saviour
The law served as our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be prepared for the faith that was to come.
Paul also describes the law as "our guardian" (Gal 3:24). Again, we see that the law is temporary. It is also our guardian until Christ came. Verse 23 speaks of being held captive, and also being imprisoned. The term guardian in Galatians is not translated well from the Greek. There’s no modern equivalent. What do guardians do? They guard prisoners or important things and artifacts. He was usually a slave, and given a role by their masters. They were appointed as severe disciplinarians, and tasked with guarding children from the evils of society, and also giving them moral training. He was not really a teacher or a tutor, but was a strict and oppressive overseer. Thus, those under the guardian would want to break free.
In a similar way, the law was also to protect Israel, to keep them from sinning and abandoning God. This was the real purpose of the whole Mosaic law! The law was added to prepare God’s people of the coming the Messiah. It points towards Christ. Jesus came to fulfill every single aspect of the law. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4).
In these verses, we read of Paul's explanation for why the law was given. The law served to reveal sin, and left no way out for the people until Christ came to fulfill the law and provide salvation. It drives people to the gospel. Yet, the law is only temporary and does not give life. Christ is our only hope in life and death! The only way out of the prison that the law holds us under, the only way out of the guilt and weight of sin, is through Christ’s fulfilment. As the hymn goes, "Not the labor of my hands/ Can fulfill Thy law’s demands". What are you looking to save you today?How has your understanding of the law tonight caused you to think about God’s grace?