Galatians 3:19-22

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:20

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, .... A mediator supposes two parties he stands between, and these at a distance from, or disagreeing with each other; where there is but one party, there can be no need of, nor any reason for, a mediator; so Christ is the Mediator between God and men, the daysman, Job 9:33 , that lays his hands upon them both; and Moses, he was the mediator between God and the Israelites: but God is one ; not in person, for there are three persons in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:21

Is the law then against the promises of God? .... If the law was added because of transgressions, and curses for them, and if the inheritance is not of it, but by promise, were it, it would not be by promise, then, says an objector, it is against the promises: these are contrary to one another, and God, in giving the one and the other, must contradict himself: to which it is replied, God forbid ; a way of speaking the apostle uses, when he would express his abhorrence and detestation of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:22

But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, .... By the "Scripture" is meant, either the writing of the law in particular, the killing letter, or the whole Scripture, or God in it; and who by and in it has shown, declared, and proved, that all the individuals of human nature, Jews and Gentiles, and all that is in them, and done by them, are under the power and dominion of sin, defiled by it, and involved in the guilt of it; for it is not πΑντΑν , "all persons", but πΑντΑ , "all... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:20

A mediator is not a mediator of one - As a mediator, μεσιτης , signifies a middle person, there must necessarily be two parties, between whom he stands, and acts in reference to both, as he is supposed to have the interests of both equally at heart. This verse is allowed to be both obscure and difficult; and it is certain that there is little consent among learned men and critics in their opinions concerning it. Rosenmuller thinks that the opinion of Nosselt is to be preferred to all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:21

Is the law then against the promises of God? - Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed, should annul the promise made to the other? It is impossible. For if there had been a law, etc. - If any law or rule of life could have been found out that would have given life - saved sinners from death, and made them truly happy, then righteousness- justification, should have been by that law. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded - All the writings of the prophets have uniformly declared that men are all sinners, and the law declares the same by the continual sacrifices which it prescribes. All, therefore have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and, being tried and found guilty, συνεκλεισεν ἡ γραφη , the Scripture hath shut them up - put them in prison, and locked them up, till the time should come in which the sentence of the law should be executed upon them: (See Romans... read more

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