Galatians 3:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 3:19-92

The apostle having just before been speaking of the promise made to Abraham, and representing that as the rule of our justification, and not the law, lest they should think he did too much derogate from the law, and render it altogether useless, he thence takes occasion to discourse of the design and tendency of it, and to acquaint us for what purposes it was given. It might be asked, ?If that promise be sufficient for salvation, wherefore then serveth the law? Or, Why did God give the law by... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 3:19-22

3:19-22 Why, then, have the law at all? The law was added to the situation to define what transgressions are, until the seed should come, to whom the promise, which still holds good, had been made. That law was enacted by angels and came by means of a mediator. Now there can be no such thing as a mediator of one; and God is one. Is, then, the law contrary to the promises of God? God forbid! If a law which was able to give life had been given, then indeed right relationship with God would have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:19

Wherefore why then serveth the law? .... If this be the case, might an objector say, why was the law given? what ends and purposes are to be served by it? of what use can it be? there had as good been no law at all, if the inheritance is not of it, and there is no justification by it. To which it is answered, it was added because of transgressions ; four hundred and thirty years after the covenant made with Abraham; it did not succeed it, nor take the place of it, and so make it null and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:19

Wherefore then serveth the law? - If the law does not annul the Abrahamic covenant, and cannot confer salvation on its votaries, why did God give it? This was a very natural objection, and must arise in the mind of any Jew who had paid attention to the apostle's reasoning. It was added because of transgressions - It was given that we might know our sinfulness, and the need we stood in of the mercy of God. The law is the right line, the straight edge, that determines the obliquity of our... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:19

Verse 19 When we are told that the law has no influence in obtaining justification, various suggestions immediately arise, that it must be either useless, or opposed to God’s covenant, or something of that sort. Nay, it might occur, why should we not say of the law, what Jeremiah says of the New Testament, (Jeremiah 31:31,) that it was given at a later period, in order to supply the weakness of the former doctrine? Objections of this kind must be answered, if Paul wished to satisfy the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

The covenant of promise. Having taken up the case of Abraham as illustrating the necessity of faith, Paul proceeds to state the Abrahamic covenant as one of promise. The Mosaic covenant, promulgated four hundred and thirty years after, could not, he argues, disannul the previous covenant. It must have a supplementary purpose; and this he shows to be to drive the souls who have been made hopeless by the Law into the arms of the "faithful Promiser." The following lessons are suggested:— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

Promise and Law. From this point the apostle has a softened tone toward the Galatians. He deals with them now more in the way of instruction and counsel than of correction and rebuke. I. THE PROMISE WAS NOT INVALIDATED BY THE LAW . 1 . Human analogy. "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto." When the apostle professes to speak after the manner of men,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:19

Wherefore then serveth the Law? ( τί οὖν ὁ νόμος ;); what then (or, why then ) is the Law ? The apostle is wont thus to introduce the statement of some objection or some question relative to the point in hand which requires consideration (cf. Romans 3:1 ; Romans 4:1 ). He wishes now to show that, while the Law was a Divine ordinance, it was yet not intended to supersede the previously ratified covenant, but rather to prepare for its being completely carried out. It was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:19

The object of the Law. The Law, we are told, was "added because of transgressions." This cannot mean that it was instituted to restrain transgressions—the normal object of Law—since that assertion would be opposed to the main drift of the apostle's argument; nor can it signify simply that the Law was added to reveal transgressions, or this would be more directly stated; nor certainly can it mean that the Law was intended to produce transgressions, to serve as an instrument of sin—a purpose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:19-20

The use and nature of the Law. "What then is the Law?" The apostle's reasoning seemed to make the Law a quite superfluous thing. In the eyes of the Judaists it was God's most glorious institute. It was necessary, therefore, to show its nature, office, and characteristics, and its relation to the covenant of promise. It was really inferior to the dispensation of grace on four grounds, which themselves explain its nature and use. I. THE LAW DISCOVERS SIN . "It was superadded... read more

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