Ep. 17 | Why Then the Law?

Speaker: Jesse Turkington

Summary: Why was the Old Testament Law established? What was its purpose? Paul explains the purpose of the Law in relation the God's promises.

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Music created by Chad Hoffman
Artwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

Jesse’s Personal Notes:

Galatians 3:15-22

Introduction

Hey welcome to Pickled Parables! My name’s Jesse.

This week’s episode is about Galatians chapter three, verses fifteen through twenty-two. We’re continuing our study through Galatians and this passage is the next step of Paul’s correction. 

Paul has argued that salvation, or more specifically righteousness, is a gift from God that is received through having faith in His promises. Paul’s used Abraham as his example and a model of how, “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 

Now using Abraham as an example was deliberate by Paul because Abraham’s interactions with God pre-date the instution of the Old Testament Law and even the distinctions between Jew and Gentile. Neither of these things were in effect or even existent yet. 

So for the modern Gentile who received this letter, they would have hope to believe that salvation was not an exclusive offer. And the modern Judaizes who saw this letter, they would have to admit that the Father of the Jews, Abraham, was credited righteousness through belief. 

However, these Judaizers might insist that the Mosaic law was like a new revelation for mankind that was meant to add something to what had been already established through God’s original dealings with Abraham.  

So, this is what Paul is specifically addressing in this passage. How does the Old Testament Law change or effect the promises that God gave to Abraham? 

Galatians 3:15-18

If this passage of scripture could be put into a question, the question would be, “Why did God establish the Law?” 

This is an actual question that Paul asks in verse nineteen, but he asks it so that he can present the answer. 

You see, the difficulty for the recipients of this letter was understanding the reasoning of God’s actions. The Galatians were being persuaded, maybe even coerced, to accept certain practices and observances that they were being told was integral to their salvation.  

So Paul is defending, correcting and making things clear so that these inaccurate teachings would be revealed for what they were; inaccurate. 

So Paul has explained the means and the method of obtaining righteousness and salvation. That was covered in chapter three, verses one through fourteen. 

Now in verse fifteen, Paul moves to address the effects that the Mosaic Law had on the Abrahamic covenant, if there were any. 

So he says in verse fifteen:

To give a human example, (my) brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. (Galatians 3:15 ESV)

Now the first thing to make note of, is that Paul addresses the Galatians as “my brothers.” We’ve talked about this a couple times already, but again let me remind you that this is not a biological relationship or even a friendly term of endearment. This is specifically mentioning the relationship that believers have entered into by the adoption of God the Father through the payment of Jesus Christ. 

As Sons and Daughters of God the Father, we are sealed with His Holy Spirit. We are given, just as we were given grace, we are given the Spirit of God to live in us, to live with us, and align us more into the will and image of God. 

Paul is calling them brothers (and in the Greek language this word would include sisters as well, think siblings), Paul’s using this term to remind them that they were adopted. 

Adoption is not initiated by the person being adopted. There is a need. Adoption meets a need. These Galatians were needy because they could not earn a right standing before God. 

But God the Father initiated, He worked for it, He pursued them and He gave to those who would take it the gift of right standing. Before God, these men and women, these brothers and sisters, were children of God. 

Pay attention the language that Paul uses because he is in a very intentional state of mind right now. He is using words with purpose. Again, verse fifteen:

To give a human example, (my) brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. (Galatians 3:15 ESV)

Paul’s setting up an example. And I want to clearly communicate with you that when he says, “To give a human example…” it does not mean that this coming example is uninspired by God’s divine direction. 

Paul is simply stating that he is offering an easily understandable and common practice that the Galatians would have been aware of. 

 This human example had to do with official and formal promise makings. Once a promise or a testament was made it was settled. And additions could not enter into this formalized and sealed deal.

Paul takes this example and applies it to his next statement. Verse sixteen:

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. (Galatians 3:16-18 ESV)

Let’s open this suitcase up because there’s a bit to unpack. 

Now I want you to be aware, that in the Greek language, “offspring,” or just literally “seed” (think of promise in Genesis, “The seed of your loins”) it was often used in the singular form (like – offspring, seed) to refer to many. And Paul would have known this. They had a translation of the Old Testament in Greek called the Septuagint. And that was how it was used. 

I want you to be aware of this so that I can direct your attention to what Paul is actually trying to say. Again, Paul is being very intentional with his words and the translators who have taken the Greek and put into English for us have really tried keep that intentionality. 

Paul is targeting the seed of promise. Think back to Genesis fifteen and seventeen:

But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I (will die) childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; (what will come out of your own loins) shall be your heir.” (Genesis 15:2-4 ESV)

And then in chapter seventeen:

And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” (Genesis 17:18-21 ESV)

Abraham had eight sons but only one of them carried God’s promise. And so it continued with Isaac and then the promised continued through Jacob. 

 Abraham had more than one son but only one of his offsprings carried the promise… All the way up to Jesus Christ. The promises were made to Abraham and his offspring. 

 Verse seventeen:

This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. (Galatians 3:17-18 ESV)

So the Law came after the promise had been established with Abraham. It had been reaffirmed with Isaac and then again with Jacob. The covenant that God made with Abraham was established and reaffirmed three times. 

So, Paul says, “If the inheritance (receiving the promise) comes by (keeping) the law then it no longer comes by promise.” These two things conflict. They don’t add up. They don’t fit together.

Galatians 3:19-20

So Paul asks, “Why then the Law?” Why was it established? Why was it put in place?

Another way of asking this could be, “What is the Law’s purpose?”

Paul explains in verse nineteen:

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. (Galatians 3:19b ESV)

So the Law was added because of transgressions. What does that mean? The Law created the understanding that mankind is in desperate need of salvation. But it was only put in place until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made. 

Meaning, the law was meant to be temporary until Jesus Christ accomplished its purpose. Jesus did not come to abolish the law; He came to fulfill the law. 

By measuring ourselves to God’s standards we can clearly see that we are not tall enough to ride His righteous roller-coaster. 

We were incapable, we were unable, we were destitute because of what the law revealed. But through Jesus Christ the law was accomplished and the promises were made manifest. Now, we get to sit on Jesus’ shoulders and through Jesus’ intercession we get to ride the righteous roller-coaster. 

Now there’s something interesting here in this verse. It talks about intermediaries and angels. It’s interesting because we don’t really know anything about it. But it’s apparent that the people of Paul’s time did. 

Stephen made a similar statement in Acts chapter seven and it’s also mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews. I’ll read both so that we can be aware of them. 

Stephen said in Acts seven:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (Acts 7:51-53 ESV)

 And Hebrews chapter two:

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4 ESV)

The intermediary that’s mentioned is Moses. He stood between God and the people of Israel because the people were terrified of God. 

So we have angels and an intermediary setting up the covenantal law … but we don’t have any of that when God established His covenant with Abraham. 

Verse twenty says:

Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. (Galatians 3:20 ESV)

God established His covenant with Abraham. No one stood in the gap. No one interceded. It was a personal promise from God to man.  

Galatians 3:21-22

So Paul asks in verse twenty-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 3:21-22 ESV)

The law did not give righteousness. It actually brought a curse because of its goodness. The sinfulness of man was revealed in a stunning light and it entrapped people because of a humanly unattainable standard. It imprisoned everyone under sin.

The law fortified the only way of receiving righteousness – through faith in Jesus Christ.

The purpose of the law was to reveal to those under it their state of condemnation before God. Only when mankind reaches the realization that we are condemned by God’s righteous and holy standards because of our sinful natures can we stand in complete honesty and accept the promise which God offers through Jesus Christ. 

The function of the law was in no sense competition to the covenant which promised righteousness by faith. It was God’s structured instrument to show mankind’s absolute need for this promise. 

Righteousness only comes only by God, and sinners receive it by faith. 

Conclusion

The Mosaic Law did not supersede or even amend the Abrahamic Covenant. 

It was the means for the early Israelites to experience the blessing of God’s promises. But rather than being a blessing it became a curse because it entrapped mankind under a standard that we could not individually achieve. 

The law revealed a deep divide between mankind and God which set in place the understanding that we needed someone to stand in the gap and help us. 

The law helped prepare the way for Jesus. 

As it says in Galatians chapter four:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

The law was the best thing that God ever gave Israel because it revealed His heart, His worldview and His desires. 

We’re able to look back at the law now with the appreciation of Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross. But we shouldn’t disparage the law. Even though its not regulatory for us today it still is revelatory. We can learn so much about God through His law. 

But we should understand, that it was meant to show the necessity of Jesus.