Galatians 3:10-14
10: For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”
11: Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
12: However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”
13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”—
14: in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Paul quoted Old Testament Scripture here to make several important points. First is that anyone who was under the Law was under a curse. He was speaking of the Jewish Law which God gave to Moses, which, among other things, required all males to be circumcised. He brought this up because of the Jews who wanted the Gentile believers to be circumcised. He quoted Deuteronomy 27:26 which says that anyone who doesn’t keep all the Law is cursed. Of course, we know that no one could keep all the Law all the time. No one was justified by the Law; it simply revealed the sin in the heart of fallen mankind. (Romans 3:19-20).
Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4 which says that “the righteous man shall live by faith.” He said it’s obvious that righteousness would have to come by faith because it can’t possibly come through the Law. He made the point that the Law was not of faith when he quoted Leviticus 18:5 which says, “he who practices them shall live by them.” The Lord spoke this to Moses to say that only the one who keeps His statutes and judgement will live. Once again, no one could, and no one did, keep the Law other than the Lord Himself. No one else was, or ever will be, justified by the Law in the sight of God.
Finally, Paul quoted Deuteronomy 21:23 where it says “the one who hangs on a tree is cursed” to make the point that Christ, who hung on the cross, was cursed according to the Law. Not for any crime He committed, but for our sins. In so doing, He redeemed us from the curse of the Law. We are redeemed from the consequence of not keeping the Law of God. Whether one tried to keep the Law (like the Jews) or not (the Gentiles) no one attainted righteousness through the Law.
Jesus became a curse for us so that the blessing of Abraham could come to everyone—Jew and Gentile—and all who believed would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. This promise of the Spirit is not a promise to take lightly. It brings us into sonship with God (Galatians 4:5-6). It writes His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). The Spirit of God brings the very presence of God to us. He is the Spirit of truth, the Helper, Teacher. He testifies of Jesus and bears witness in our hearts that we are His child. He convicts, He guides, discloses, helps us pray and please God. He reveals all things that God has prepared for us to us. (See John 14-16, Romans 8:8-9, 16, 26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). This glorious promise only comes through faith in Jesus.
11: Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
12: However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”
13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”—
14: in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
***
Paul quoted Old Testament Scripture here to make several important points. First is that anyone who was under the Law was under a curse. He was speaking of the Jewish Law which God gave to Moses, which, among other things, required all males to be circumcised. He brought this up because of the Jews who wanted the Gentile believers to be circumcised. He quoted Deuteronomy 27:26 which says that anyone who doesn’t keep all the Law is cursed. Of course, we know that no one could keep all the Law all the time. No one was justified by the Law; it simply revealed the sin in the heart of fallen mankind. (Romans 3:19-20).
Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4 which says that “the righteous man shall live by faith.” He said it’s obvious that righteousness would have to come by faith because it can’t possibly come through the Law. He made the point that the Law was not of faith when he quoted Leviticus 18:5 which says, “he who practices them shall live by them.” The Lord spoke this to Moses to say that only the one who keeps His statutes and judgement will live. Once again, no one could, and no one did, keep the Law other than the Lord Himself. No one else was, or ever will be, justified by the Law in the sight of God.
Finally, Paul quoted Deuteronomy 21:23 where it says “the one who hangs on a tree is cursed” to make the point that Christ, who hung on the cross, was cursed according to the Law. Not for any crime He committed, but for our sins. In so doing, He redeemed us from the curse of the Law. We are redeemed from the consequence of not keeping the Law of God. Whether one tried to keep the Law (like the Jews) or not (the Gentiles) no one attainted righteousness through the Law.
Jesus became a curse for us so that the blessing of Abraham could come to everyone—Jew and Gentile—and all who believed would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. This promise of the Spirit is not a promise to take lightly. It brings us into sonship with God (Galatians 4:5-6). It writes His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). The Spirit of God brings the very presence of God to us. He is the Spirit of truth, the Helper, Teacher. He testifies of Jesus and bears witness in our hearts that we are His child. He convicts, He guides, discloses, helps us pray and please God. He reveals all things that God has prepared for us to us. (See John 14-16, Romans 8:8-9, 16, 26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). This glorious promise only comes through faith in Jesus.
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