Galatians 3:19-25

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 3:23-29

3:23-29 Before faith came we were under guard under the power of the law, shut up and waiting for the day when faith would be revealed. So that the law was really our tutor to bring us to Christ so that we might get into a right relationship with God by means of faith. But now that faith has come we are no longer under a tutor; for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer any distinction... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:23

But before faith came ,.... This is to be understood, not of the grace of faith, which was under the former dispensation, as now; the Old Testament saints had the same Spirit of faith, and the same grace of faith, as for its nature, object, and use, as New Testament saints have; Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, &c.; believed in Christ, and were justified by faith in his righteousness, as we are. It is much better to understand it of the doctrine of faith, which though preached to Adam,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ ,.... So the words should be read, as they are by the Syriac and Ethiopic versions; for the words "to bring us" are a supplement of our translators, and have nothing to answer to them in the original; and the sense of the passage is, that the law performed this office of a schoolmaster until the coming of Christ; which shows that till that time the church was in its minority, that the Jews were but children in knowledge and understanding,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:25

But after that faith is come, .... That is, since Christ the object of faith is come in the flesh, and has fulfilled the law, and redeemed them that were under it from its bondage, curse, and condemnation: we are no longer under a schoolmaster ; under the law as such; as no longer under it as a military guard, nor in it as a prison, so neither under it as a schoolmaster; not needing its instructions, or its discipline; since Christ is come as a prophet to teach and instruct, as a priest... read more

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