Verse 1. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified.” To the apostle it was evident that Satan had bewitched them, and he brings before them plain facts. By faith they had seen, and owned Christ crucified before. Why not now?
Verse 2. “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” There was only one answer to that question.
Verse 3. “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” This was also easily answered, “The flesh profiteth nothing.”
Verse 4. Had they not suffered many things already for Christ? Was it all in vain? He would like to hinder them from going further in that direction.
Verse 5. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,” was that done by the works of the law? Could it be? or was it by the hearing of faith? And yet how many Christians are clinging to the law today to make themselves miserable, instead of seeing what is so plain in chapter 2:19, 20, that we are now dead with Christ, and risen with Christ beyond all law.
Verse 6. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,” and there was no law then.
Verses 7, 8. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before, the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” That was believing in the One who was to come. We believe that He has come, and finished the work of atonement on which our souls can now rest.
Verse 9. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Every believer is there accepted in Christ.
Verses 10-13. Now we see the contrast of law. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
There is no mercy in the law: divine wrath must follow failure to keep it, to all who are under it, and none could keep it, but the perfect, sinless One, the faithful and true witness, the Lamb without blemish and without spot.
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident (Psa. 143:22And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. (Psalm 143:2)): for the just shall live by faith, and the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them, shall live in them.” If he cannot do them, he is cursed.
Thank God, He has provided a way through the Lamb. His wonderful love spared not His own Son, who gave Himself up for the transgressors, and as it is written, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’” He has borne the judgment of sin. He was made sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. God has accepted His atoning work.
Verse 14. And now, “the blessing of Abraham can come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Verses 15-17 show that the covenant of God was unconditional—given to the “Seed,” “Christ,” before the law was given—so that Israel’s failure under the law cannot dis-annul what was promised them. It was confirmed before of God in Christ. The law was given four hundred and thirty years after. It therefore cannot render the promise of God of none effect.
Verse 18. “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
Verse 19. “Where then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions.” “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)). “That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God” (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). “The law is good if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane” (1 Tim. 1:8, 98But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (1 Timothy 1:8‑9)). Sin in us is shown by the commandment to be exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7:12, 1312Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (Romans 7:12‑13)). The law was added “because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; it was ordained through angels in the hand of a mediator.” Moses came between them and God, that was under the law.
Verses 20-29. “Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.” He has come out as giving unconditional blessing through Christ—it was His pleasure to do so.
Verse 21. “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe, but before faith came, we were guarded under the law, shut up unto the faith (Christianity) which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our (the Jews) schoolmaster until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith, but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster; for we are all God’s sons by faith in Christ Jesus.” And in being baptized unto Christ it was altogether apart from the law, it was putting on the name of Christ. It is symbolical of death with Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, “for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
You belong to Him who is risen and glorified, freed forever from the law and all that recognizes man in the flesh, though the flesh is still in us. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed (that is, believers), and heirs according to the promise.”