The Galatians Didn't Understand the Law - The Law Is a Blessing and a Curse - Galatians 3:10-14

Today, Paul brings out the big guns showing that the Judaizers who had tricked the Galatians didn't actually understand the Old Testament they claimed to represent. Paul shows that the promises in scripture demonstrate that faith saves and the law curses people, but the Old Testament also speaks of a Savior who would take the curse of the law on himself on behalf of believers. Paul basically undergirds his case that the law is not necessary for salvation by quoting a bunch of Old Testament scriptures to help the Galatians see the truth of the situation.

One of the points I highlight in here is how the law was always meant to be both a blessing and a curse. It has elements of blessing, but unless it is kept perfectly, it brings on a curse.

Beyond that, I just try to examine the Old Testament scriptures that Paul references to give some context to his quotes and explain how it integrates to his main thesis, and I share a few thoughts of my own as we go along.

I hope you enjoy.

Text:

Galatians 3:10-14

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Thumbnail Picture:

The picture of Justice in the thumbnail came from this website and is listed as public domain.

https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1186582

Here's the public domain dedication:

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/