Rachel Workman: 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.
21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises?[l] Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
There is a lawful use of the law, and there is an unlawful use (1 Tim. 1:8–11). The lawful use is to reveal sin and cause men to see their need of a Savior. The unlawful use is to try to achieve salvation by the keeping of the law. When people claim they are saved by “keeping the Ten Commandments,” they are revealing their ignorance of the true meaning of the law. The law concludes “all [men] under sin” (Gal. 3:22), Jews and Gentiles alike. But since all are under sin, then all may be saved by grace! God does not have two ways of salvation; He has but one—faith in Jesus Christ.
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John Burnett: Why the Law then? It was added on account of the [a]violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a [b]mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not [c]for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? [d]Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness [e]would indeed have been [f]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has confined [g]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. The law was given to show us our need for Christ's righteousness. When Jesus talked about his burden being light in Matthew 11:28-30, he was talking about the burden of sin and the burden of trying to fulfill the law. The law is impossible for us to keep all of it and it is by God's grace, that he provided a seed through Abraham, in His son Jesus Christ, in that those who believe can have the promise of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Galatians 3:23-29
23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26 For you are all children[m] of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.[n] 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[o] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children[p] of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
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