Galatians 3:10 Commentary

Navigator

Galatians 3:10

Comments

Faith, he argues, is the sole condition of blessing from God, because the only alternative – obedience to the law – always brings a curse. Why is this, since the law appears to offer life? He again quotes from Moses, this time from Deuteronomy 27:26, where the stark conclusion of Scripture is that the way to blessing through the law is forever barred; anyone who tries to go that way only meets with a curse. The reason for this is that the terms of the law are so demanding that no one will ever be able to keep them. The law is satisfied with nothing less than continual perfect obedience to every one of the commandments written in Scripture. One sin brings down its full curse upon us, for the law is incapable of mercy and does not provide a sacrifice for sin that makes the conscience clean. Paul does not need to point out that human sin is universal and therefore the law always leads to a curse and not a blessing. Every human being without exception comes into the world with a fallen nature, which inevitably results in sin. Who are the ones who are described as being ‘of the works of the law’? They are all those who rely upon their own ability to keep the law, and on the righteousness which the law gives. All such are living under a vain hope. They need rather to be set free from the law.

Application

A man who is ignorant of his own nature might look at the law and think, ‘God has made it clear what he wants me to do and so it must be within my power to do it.’ His optimism comes from his refusal to accept what Scripture says about his heart. This impossibly high standard leads to despair both when we look forward and when we look back. How will we be able to live by such a high standard day after day, year after year? But the past is worse. My past record of sin means that I am already disqualified. I cannot go back and alter the past and put right my past deeds, and therefore the curse of the law is already on me, never mind about the future.

Questions

To what law is Paul referring when he speaks of the works of the law in Galatians? Obviously he does not mean simply the ceremonial law and the duties required by it, but he means the moral law, given to Israel as a covenant of works and summed up in the Ten Commandments. Only this could bring a curse on those who did not keep it, for the quotation comes from Moses’ exposition of the moral law, and expresses its uncompromising threats against disobedience.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Galatians 3:10 Commentary and Bible Study