30th May 2023 – Galatians 3:19-24

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.


One of the major problems, of course, in understanding the subject of the law of God is that in Scripture the idea of law is employed in a variety of different ways, and these we need to distinguish and clarify in such a way as to know which sense of the law is being employed or is intended in any particular reference. We shall therefore spend some time classifying these different uses.

We think first of all of the Hebrew word 'Torah', meaning 'law'. This is used in the Old Testament to refer to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the OT), as distinct from the Prophets and the Kethubim (the wisdom writings). It is also, however, used to indicate the whole covenant relation of the Old Testament, the sum total of all God has revealed to His people. Thirdly, it signifies (from its root meaning 'to direct') God's explicit claim, His direction for man's life.

This latter is expressed in a threefold way, in the civil (penal), ceremonial, and the moral law.

Next, there is the law of the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue. Then, there is the use of the law which contrasts law and promise, or law and gospel.

Then, there is the idea of the law which equates law with the Old Testament, the old covenant, in contrast with the New Testament and the new covenant.

Then, there is the idea of the law written in men's hearts. There is also the idea of natural law, in the sense of the order of creation.

Then, there is the law that 'slips in between' (Romans 5:20) - it enters, comes in between (Galatians 3:19) because of transgression.

Finally, there is the law conceived as a method of divine education, as Paul indicates in Galatians 3/4 in his use of the idea of tutors and guardians. More of this in tomorrow's Note.