Gálatas 3
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 3
Guzik explains that by using the phrase before whose eyes (of the Galatians) "Paul did not mean that the Galatians literally saw the crucifixion of Jesus or even that they had a spiritual vision of it. He meant that the truth of Jesus and Him crucified (cf 1 Cor 1:23) and the greatness of His (atoning) work (on the Cross) for them (as their substitutionary sacrifice) was laid out for them so clearly (see prographo) that they could see it. In fact watching the death of Jesus on the Cross meant nothing to hundreds, if not thousands, who saw Jesus dying on the Cross and only mocked Him! (Galatians 3 Commentary) Publicly portrayed makes us think of a message on a large billboard which is easily seen, clearly displayed and fully understood! This vision of the Cross and the centrality of the truth of the finished work of Christ had become "fuzzy" to the Galatians because of the false teaching. Instead of the Gospel message of JESUS ONLY, they had begun to think that the message was JESUS PLUS, especially works of the law such as circumcision (cf Gal 5:1-4+). Lightfoot says prographo "is the common word to describe all public notices or proclamations....This placard ought to have kept their eyes from wandering, and so to have acted as a charm against all Judaic sorceries." Marvin Vincent paraphrases Paul's seeming play on the word "eye" - "Who could have succeeded in bringing you under the spell of an evil eye, when directly before your own eyes stood revealed the crucified Christ?" THOUGHT - "We need to warn people to keep their eyes on Jesus (cf Heb 12:2+) in order that they may not become "fascinated" (Latin for casting a spell) by the worldly allurements. When our eyes are filled with the bright shining of the Light of the World (Jn 8:12), we shall not be captivated by the dazzling neon signs of the world's pleasures. When we are following the Light, other little flashes may annoy us, but they will not divert us from the narrow way (Mt 7:13-14+) that leads to life and light eternal." (Ralph Earle in Word Meanings in the New Testament)
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Guzik observes in this section Paul "lays out one of the fundamental differences between the principle of law and the principle of grace. Under law, we are blessed and grow spiritually by earning and deserving (ED: This of course is what the Judaizers would have taught but it is not the way of genuine spiritual growth and true blessing!). Under grace, we are blessed and grow spiritually by believing and receiving. God deals with you under the covenant of grace; we should not respond on the principle of law. (Galatians 3 Commentary) Even the best and most acceptable works do not increase our standing before God or elevate us to a higher spiritual status. How would it be possible to be more than a child of God and fellow heir with Jesus Christ, who is the Heir of all things (Ro 8:17+; Heb. 1:2+; cf. Gal 4:7+; 1 Pet 3:7+)? There is a place for good works, but they must be "God works!" They must be John 15:5 works! In other words the validity of good works in God’s sight depends on whose power they are done in and for whose glory. When they are done in the power of His Spirit and for His glory, they are beautiful and acceptable to Him. When they are done in the power of the flesh and for the sake of personal recognition or merit, they are rejected by Him. See related study of Good Deeds COMPARISON OF HUMAN EFFORT VERSUS LIFE IN THE SPIRIT Religion by Reliance on Human Effort Relationship by Reliance on the Spirit GOAL Seeking to please God by our own works in our natural strength Trusting in Christ and living enabled by His Spirit to bear much fruit (Jn 15:5, 8) MEANS Practicing diligent service, rigid discipline, and obeying rules in hope of meriting a reward Daily surrendering to and being filled with His Spirit (Eph 5:18+) POWER Self Effort Walking in my power Spirit Enablement Walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16+) CONTROL Self-motivation; self-control Christ living in me; I living in faith (Gal 2:20+, cf Php 2:13NLT+) RESULTS Guilt, apathy, depression, futility, failure, desire for approval Power over lusts Fruit of Spirit Gratitude, guidance (Ga 5:16, 18+, Ga 5:22-23+)
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Guzik - Generally speaking, ancient Rabbis did not really admire Abraham’s faith. They believed he was so loved by God because he was thought to have kept the law hundreds of years before it was given. For these and other reasons, when Paul brought up Abraham, it would have been a complete surprise to his opponents, who believed that Abraham proved their point. Gerald Borchert - Abraham’s faith (cf. Rom 4:3) in an exemplary proof-text that confirms the difference between works of the law and the hearing of faith discussed in the previous section. In contrast to Paul’s understanding of Abraham’s faith, the rabbis would have argued that Abraham was judged righteous because he had been faithful in the time of testing and was consequently rewarded (cf. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Gen 15:6; Exodus Rabbah 3:12; see also Longenecker 1990:113-114). The rabbis understood the reward as the establishment of the everlasting covenant of Genesis 17:1-8 with its unbreakable sign of circumcision (Gen 17:9-14; cf. Sir 44:19-21; 1 Macc 2:52; Jubilees 17:15-18)....Paul had been brought up with a rabbinic perspective, but when he became a Christian, he realized that Abraham did not merit the covenant. Instead, the covenant was a promise from God that Abraham accepted by faith. This distinction was foundational for Paul; it went to the heart of his conflict with the Galatians and their misguided teachers because they had undoubtedly relied on Abraham as their role model for the place of both circumcision and human effort in being justified (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – Volume 14: Romans and Galatians) Newton points out what was most likely the erroneous reasoning of the Judaizers in trying to convince others that salvation was attained by faith plus works. Newton suggests (and I agree) that the Judaizers "spoke of the 'righteous Abraham' and made the deduction that he became righteous due to his circumcision and his strict observance to the Law. With convincing argument they applied this to the modern need for "works" in order to be justified. But they neglected making a right interpretation. For Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith in the promise of God ten years before God commanded him to be circumcised! And his obedience to God came about without a codified Law which did not come until over 400 years later! Paul gives his argument for justification through faith by looking at the Galatian believer's experience in Galatians 3:1-5. Now he draws a conclusion in Gal 3:6: "Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." Paul is drawing a conclusion between Abraham's justification and those in the present when he uses the phrase "even so" (Greek kathos). It is often translated "just as," so that the inference he implies is that there was no difference in how Abraham was justified and how you are justified. He appeals to Genesis 15:6, quoting the text to show that before Abraham's circumcision (Gen. 17:9-14), Abraham's faith in the promise of God to him was accounted to him as righteousness. God did not accept Abraham because of anything which he did or any work that he attempted. He simply believed God and God accounted him as righteous before Him. (Galatians 3:6-9 Abraham's True Children) Abraham believed God - The NT quotes Ge 15:6 three times - Gal 3:6, Romans and James. This is one of the clearest statements in all Scripture about justification (cp Ro 3:24). Abraham "trusted" God, and this, rather than his works, was the ground upon which he was accorded "righteousness." The Hebrew word translated believed means “to say amen.” God gave a promise, and Abraham responded with “Amen!” It was this faith that was counted for righteousness. Like Paul, who wrote this epistle to Rome, Abraham was sovereignly and directly chosen by God. Neither Abraham nor Paul was searching for God when they were divinely called and commissioned. Abraham had probably never heard of the true God, whereas Paul knew a great deal about Him. Abraham was seemingly content with his idolatrous paganism, and Paul was content with his traditional, but false, Judaism. When God called Abraham, or Abram, which was his original name, He gave no reason for selecting that pagan from the millions of others in the world. Nowhere in Scripture is the reason given. God chose Abraham because that was His divine will, which needs no justification or explanation. Abraham was a man of faith (Ro 1:16 4:18-21 Ga 3:6, 7, 9 Heb 11:8-10). But faith is not a meritorious work. It is never the ground of justification—it is simply the channel through which it is received and it, too, is a gift (Ep 2:8 2 Pe1:1). The one “work” that “earned” Abraham being declared righteous by God was not a work at all, but the non-act (the heart attitude) of trusting God.
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Guzik has a lengthy note on sons of Abraham writing that "This was a strong rebuke to the Jewish Christians who tried to bring Gentile Christians under the law. They believed they were superior because they descended from Abraham and observed the law. Paul said that the most important link to Abraham was not the link of genetics and not the link of works, but it is the link of faith. This would have been a shocking change of thinking for these particular opponents of Paul. They deeply believed that they had a standing before God because they were genetically descended from Abraham. At that time, some Jewish Rabbis taught that Abraham stood at the gates of Hell just to make sure that none of his descendants accidentally slipped by. John the Baptist dealt with this same thinking when he said, "Do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones (Matthew 3:9, cf Lk 3:8+)" Paul knocked down their blind reliance on genetic relation to Abraham and showed that what really mattered was faith in Jesus.. It’s the same today when people believe God accepts them because they come from a Christian family. God is a Father, not a grandfather; everyone must have their own faith in God. Are sons of Abraham: This was a great comfort to the Gentile Christians who were regarded as “second class Christians” by others. Now they could know that they had a real, important link to Abraham and could consider themselves sons of Abraham. Sadly, Christians have taken this glorious truth and misapplied it through the centuries. This has been a verse that many claim in support of replacement theology – the idea that God is finished with the people of Israel as a nation or a distinct ethnic group, and that the Church spiritually inherits all the promises made to Israel.. Replacement theology has done tremendous damage in the Church, providing the theological fuel for the fires of horrible persecution of the Jews. If Galatians 3:7 were the only verse in the Bible speaking to the issue, there might be a place for saying that the Church has completely replaced Israel. But we understand the Bible according to its entire message, and allow one passage to give light to others. iii. For example, Romans 11:25+ (hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in) states clearly that God is not finished with Israel as a nation or a distinct ethnic group. Even though God has turned the focus of His saving mercies away from Israel on to the Gentiles, He will turn it back again. This simple passage refutes those who insist that God is forever done with Israel as Israel, and that the Church is the New Israel and inherits every promise ever made to national and ethnic Israel of the Old Testament. We are reminded of the enduring character of the promises made to national and ethnic Israel (such as Genesis 13:15 and Genesis 17:7-8). God is not “finished” with Israel, and Israel is not “spiritualized” as the church. While we do see and rejoice in a continuity of God’s work throughout all His people through all generations, we still see a distinction between Israel and the Church – a distinction that Paul understands well. All who put their faith in Jesus Christ are sons of Abraham; but Abraham has his spiritual sons and his genetic sons, and God has a plan and a place for both. Yet no one can deny that it is far more important to be a spiritual son of Abraham than a genetic son. (Galatians 3 Commentary) Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." Greek - proidousa de e grae hoti ek pisteos dikaioi (3SPAI) ta ethne o theos proeueggelisato (3SAMI) to Abraam hoti eneulogethesontai (3PFPI) en soi panta ta ethne Amplified: And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed. Barclay Scripture foresaw that it would be by faith that God would bring the Gentiles into a right relationship with himself, and told the good news to Abraham before it happened—in you shall all nations be blessed. Phillips The scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles "by faith", really proclaimed the Gospel centuries ago in the words spoken to Abraham, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' Wuest And the scripture, forseeing that on a basis of faith God justifies the Gentiles, announced the good news beforehand to Abraham, namely, All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you. (Eerdmans Publishing) NET Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." GNT Galatians 3:8 προϊδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γραφὴ ὅτι ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοῖ τὰ ἔθνη ὁ θεὸς, προευηγγελίσατο τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ὅτι Ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη· NLT Galatians 3:8 What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." KJV Galatians 3:8 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. ESV Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." ASV Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. CSB Galatians 3:8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. NIV Galatians 3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." NKJ Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." NRS Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you." YLT Galatians 3:8 and the Writing having foreseen that by faith God doth declare righteous the nations did proclaim before the good news to Abraham -- NAB Galatians 3:8 Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, "Through you shall all the nations be blessed." NJB Galatians 3:8 And it was because scripture foresaw that God would give saving justice to the gentiles through faith, that it announced the future gospel to Abraham in the words: All nations will be blessed in you. GWN Galatians 3:8 Scripture saw ahead of time that God would give his approval to non-Jewish people who have faith. So Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham ahead of time when it said, "Through you all the people of the world will be blessed." BBE Galatians 3:8 And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations have a blessing. The Scripture: Ga 3:22 Gal 4:30 Jn 7:38,42 Jn 19:37 Ro 9:17 2Ti 3:15-17 foreseeing : Acts 15:15-18 that God would justify the Gentiles by faith: Ro 3:28-30 Ro 9:30 ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.: Ga 3:16 Ge 12:3 18:18 22:18 26:4 28:14 49:10 Ps 72:7 Isa 6:13 65:9 Ac 2:25,26,35 Rev 11:15 Galatians 3:6-14 Blessed or Cursed? - John MacArthur Galatians 3:6-14 Salvation Is by Faith Alone - John MacArthur Galatians 3:6-9 Abraham's True Children - Phil Newton Galatians 3 Resources - Multiple sermons, commentaries, etc THE FORESIGHT OF SCRIPTURE: SALVATION IN EVERY AGE BY FAITH The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." - As Wuest discusses below this verse more literally begins "And the Scripture." Amplified = "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed."
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Guzik on redeemed - "It isn’t just rescuing; it is paying a price to rescue. Simply put, in Jesus, we aren’t cursed anymore." Damocles Sword There are two fascinating prepositions in Galatians 3:10 and Galatians 3:13 which present a striking picture of what is at stake in salvation and what awaits all who reject Christ. In Galatians 3:10 we were "UNDER" (preposition = HUPO) a curse. In Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed believers "OUT OF" (EK) from under the curse. The Sword of Damocles had been "hanging over our head" so to speak! From the moment of our birth we were UNDER this "SWORD". For those who reject Christ's offer, the "sword" in effect will fall on them at the end of their life and they will be cursed throughout eternity, cursed with eternal death and cursed with eternal separation from the presence of God their Creator! Dear reader, if you have not accepted Christ as your Redeemer, you must pay the price for your sin yourself (Ro 6:23+) and you are in a very real sense even at this very moment "UNDER" God's "sword" and in grave danger! You do not know if you will have tomorrow! Do not delay or procrastinate or you will have all eternity to ponder your foolish decision to reject Christ the Redeemer! (cf Jn 8:24) You must make up your mind even as you read this note, for "Behold now is the (YOUR) Day of Salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2) Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, (Acts 16:31+, Ro 10:9,10+) and Christ will in effect pull you OUT (rescue you) from UNDER the "sword" (1 Th 1:10+) that otherwise will bring about God's curse and condemnation in the exercise of His perfect justice (see below)! What does it mean that God is just? How do God's mercy and justice work together in salvation? Don Anderson - During the assassination of President Kennedy, the story of the protection of Vice President Johnson came out in that when the shots were heard, the FBI agent threw Vice President Johnson on the floor of the car and covered him with his own body. In essence, this is what Christ did for us—only it cost Him His life. Wonder of wonders that God could love like that. By faith Christ changes places with us. He gets our sins and we get His holiness or righteousness. (Notes) Guzik has an interesting historical note on redemption - Redemption came from the practices of ancient warfare. After a battle the victors would often capture some of the defeated. Among the defeated, the poorer ones would usually be sold as slaves, but the wealthy and important men, the men who mattered in their own country, were held to ransom. When the people in their homeland had raised the required price, they would pay it to the victors and the captives would be set free. The process was called redemption, and the price was called the ransom. The image took root in other areas. When a slave had his freedom purchased – perhaps by a relative, perhaps by his own diligent work and saving – this was called “redemption.” Sometimes the transaction took place at a temple, and a record was carved in the wall so everyone would forever know that this former slave was now a redeemed, free man. Or, a man condemned to death might be set free by the paying of a price, and this was considered “redemption.” Most importantly, Jesus bought us out of defeat, out of slavery, and out of a death sentence to reign as kings and priests with Him forever. Spurgeon on Christ redeemed us - The atonement is a ransom—that is to say, a price paid. In the present case, the original word is more than usually expressive; it is a payment for, a price instead of. Jesus in His sufferings performed what may be forcibly and fitly described as the payment of a ransom, the giving to justice a quid pro quo for what was due on our behalf for our sins. Christ in His person suffered what we ought to have suffered in our persons. Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am. Refrain Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am. Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me doth continually dwell. Refrain I think of my blessèd Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long: I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song. Refrain From the curse of the Law: Why is the Law which is good, actually a source of "curse" to mankind? (Ga 3:10+). The curse of the law is death—the penalty for breaking its commandments. The curse of the Law was the punishment demanded because no man could keep from violating its demands. Christ has delivered those under law from paying the penalty of death demanded by the law. Christ did not redeem men from the curse of the law by keeping the Ten Commandments perfectly during His lifetime. Scripture does not teach that His perfect obedience to the law (which was indeed perfect) is reckoned to us. No, rather Christ delivered us from curse of the the law by bearing its dreadful curse on Himself (2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pe 2:24, et al) on the old rugged Cross on Golgotha. As alluded to above -- The Galatians imagined (or were duped by the Judaizers to believe the lie) that Christ only "half purchased" them, and that they had to purchase the rest performing works of the Law and/or by submission to circumcision and other Jewish rites. Hence their readiness to be led away by false teachers and to mix grace with law, Christianity and Judaism. Paul says here: (according to the Welsh translation) “Christ hath wholly purchased us from the curse of the law.” Swindoll - those who attempt to be saved—or, really, to save themselves—by any means other than by grace through faith fool themselves. Instead of receiving a blessing as a result of their efforts to obey the Law, they fall under a curse. So how does faith remove us from this curse of the Law? Paul tells us that Christ, Who did live a perfect, righteous life without even the slightest sin, nevertheless suffered the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13). By suffering death "on a tree," that is, a cross of wood, Jesus Christ experienced the kind of death the Law reserves for one who is cursed. To validate this point, Paul alludes to a principle found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – Galatians) Spurgeon on curse of the law - In all the pages of revelation you will find no blessings that the law ever gave to one who had offended it. There were blessings for those who kept it completely—though none ever did—but no blessing is ever written for one offender. Blessings we find in the gospel; curses we find in the law. THE MEANS OF DELIVERANCE FROM THE CURSE CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE Having become a curse for us - By bearing God’s wrath for believers’ sins on the cross, Christ took upon Himself the curse pronounced on those who violated the law (see Gal 3:10). 2 Corinthians 5:21+ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Hebrews 9:28+ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. 1 Peter 2:24+ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 3:18+ For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; Isaiah 53:5-6+ But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed (OF SIN SICKNESS!). All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Ray Pritchard - Think of it. When Jesus was baptized, the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” No longer would the voice say that. At the cross, the beloved Son became “a curse for us. Isaiah's great prophecy of the Messiah's sacrifice alludes to Christ becoming a curse for us... All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (THERE IT IS - HE BECAME A CURSE FOR US!) (Isaiah 53:6+) That a loving God would send His only Son, His beloved Son to become a curse for sinful, God hating men and women is foolishness to most of the world. Paul says it this way... For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (IT HAD THE POWER TO SAVE US THE FIRST TIME = JUSTIFICATION AND THEN EVERY DAY THEREAFTER = SANCTIFICATION, UNTIL WE FINALLY REACH GLORY!). (1 Cor 1:18) Again Paul writes But a natural (UNSAVED, UNREGENERATE) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him (THINGS LIKE CHRIST BECOMING A CURSE!); and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Cor 2:14+) The Guiltless One died for the guilty. The Just One died for the unjust. The Sinless One died for the sinner. Lehman Strauss adds that the lost world falsely reasons that "A loving Father could not curse His sinless son whom He loved, and that Son still remain the object of the Father's love. The curse of the broken law rested upon all, and Christ, Who alone rendered perfect obedience to the law, assumed the place of penalty for all. This is the great Biblical truth of the vicarious sufferings and death of the Son of God who had paid the price for sins. Christ the perfect Sacrifice offered Himself to bestow a perfect salvation. The Guiltless One died for the guilty; the Just One died for the unjust; the Sinless One died for the sinner." (Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians) Spurgeon on becoming a curse - Christ was no curse in Himself. In His person He was spotlessly innocent, and nothing of sin could belong personally to Him. In Him was no sin. “God made him to be sin for us,” the apostle adds elsewhere, “who knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21+). There must never be supposed to be any degree of blameworthiness or censure in the person or character of Christ as He stands as an individual. He is in that respect without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing—the immaculate Lamb of God’s Passover. Nor was Christ made a curse of necessity. His own intrinsic holiness kept Him from sin, and that same holiness kept Him from the curse. He was made sin for us not on His own account, not with any view to Himself, but wholly because He loved us and chose to put Himself in the place we ought to have occupied. What a mystery is this! The Blessed One made a curse that we accursed ones might inherit a blessing! -- James Smith Wuest on becoming a curse - The curse here is that which the legalistic passages of the Mosaic law pronounced upon those who did not perfectly obey its demands. The law pronounced a blessing and a curse. But the blessing proved barren, for the law made no allowance for human sin and frailty (ED: STATED ANOTHER WAY, THE LAW PROVIDED TO POWER TO OBEY). The curse, which involved the wrath of a righteous God, brought condemnation upon the offender. From this hopeless state of condemnation in which the sinner was not only helpless to redeem himself, but helpless to satisfy the just demands of the law and thus find acceptance with God, Christ redeemed us by satisfying the just demands of the law which we broke, paying the penalty in our stead, leaving a holy God free to bestow mercy on the basis of justice satisfied. A vivid picture of it all is given us in the three expressions, under the curse (Gal 3:10), made a curse for us (Gal 3:13), and redeemed us out from under the curse (Gal 3:13). Sinners were under the curse. Christ came above us, thus between us and the curse. He took the blow of the Damascus blade that hung over us, and took us out from under the curse, having become a curse for us. The word above is the root meaning of huper, the preposition of substitution, used already in this epistle by Paul to speak of the substitutionary character of our Lord’s death (Gal 1:4+ = "Who gave Himself for [huper] our sins" and Gal 2:20+ "Gave Himself up for [huper] me.")....The word becoming is from genomenos (Lemma = ginomai) which means “to become.” It is a participle of means, expressing the method by which Christ redeemed us from the curse. In the words “Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree,” Paul is quoting from Deuteronomy 21:23. They are introduced by Paul to support his statement to the effect that Christ became a curse. The Deuteronomy passage has reference to the dead body of a criminal who had been put to death by stoning, and which was hung upon a tree. There is no reference here to Roman crucifixion, which was unknown at the time of Moses (ED: This passage does not mean that a man is cursed because he is executed upon a tree, but rather that a man who is executed upon a tree is there because he is cursed, having been judged as a lawbreaker.)....The law satisfied its demands upon the Lord Jesus, and thus thrust Him out of the pale of its legal jurisdiction. Believers, being identified with Him in His death in which He paid our penalty, are likewise cast out with Him, and are therefore no longer under curse. (Galatians Commentary) Curse (accursed) (2671)(katara from katá = down, against [intensifies meaning of following verb] + ara = a curse, Araoriginally = wish,” “petition,” but came to be used for curse from the time of Homer's, in the NT found only in Ro 3:14+) means a malediction (literally to speak evil), imprecation (uttering evil) on these men. Katara can be used in the sense of a legal action, of a curse by God because of sin (Gal 3.10+). Katara can describe human utterance which desires evil on someone (imprecation) (Jas 3.10+). Finally katara can represent the object of a curse, in other words the thing accursed as it does here in Gal 3.13. Related Resources: What is the curse of the law? Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? What does it mean that Christians are not under the law? FOR US = SUBSTITUTION For us (huper hemon) could be paraphrased "on behalf of" or "in our place" and speaks of substitution or substitutionary atonement. (What is the substitutionary atonement?) Simply stated, Jesus Christ took our condemnation, doom, death, and punishment upon Himself and bore them all for us. Jesus Christ took our place as the lawbreaker and guilty party before God, and He bore the punishment of the lawbreaker for us. Jesus Christ substituted Himself, His perfect life, for man's sinful life. He substituted His obedience to God for man's disobedience. He bore man's sin and punishment so that man might stand righteous and perfect before God. Martin Luther - Paul does not say that Christ was made a curse for Himself. The accent is on the two words, ‘for us.’ Christ is personally innocent. Personally, He did not deserve to be hanged for any crime of His own doing. But because Christ took the place of others who were sinners, He was hanged like any other transgressor.....Whatever sins I, you, all of us have committed or shall commit, they are Christ’s sins as if He had committed them Himself. Our sins have to be Christ’s sins or we shall perish forever. Vance Havner - Back of all the mystery of the atonement, the at-one-ment of God and man through Calvary, lies the simple fact that Christ died for us, and there is hope for us only at the foot of the cross. I used to hear the old preachers pray, "Hide us behind the cross" and wondered what they meant. I have just spoken of Adam trying to hide behind the trees in the garden. There is only one tree that can hide us from Him and that is the tree of the cross.
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Guzik explains that "If the inheritance offered to Abraham was on the basis of law, it might not be permanent – because it would depend, at least in part, on Abraham’s keeping of the law. But since the inheritance was offered on the basis of promise, God’s promise, it stands sure." Don Anderson adds this note on inheritance - The DOWN PAYMENT OF “THE INHERITANCE” is the promised coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit when we receive Christ as Savior (Eph 1:14+ where pledge = down payment). And then the FULL INHERITANCE will come at the time of our physical death when we will go to be with the Lord. It is then we will experience the blessing of all which the Lord has provided for us. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (DESCRIBES OUR INHERITANCE) "but even as it has been written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, so many things as God prepared for those who are loving Him. “THE INHERITANCE” comes through the RELATIONSHIP and not from PERFORMANCE. What Paul is saying is that this “INHERITANCE” has not come from the law but through the “PROMISE.” And that “PROMISE” centers in the Person of JESUS CHRIST. (Notes) C. S. Lovett points out that "The promise was not made to Abraham alone, but to one other Person, his Heir. If the word “heirs” had been used, then national Israel would have been intended. But the promise was to a sole Heir, Christ. This means that the promise cannot be separated from Jesus in any way. As the solitary Heir, He becomes the universal Heir, inheriting the promise for His people. It follows then, for anyone to participate in the promise, he must be “in Christ.” How does one get there? He is baptized (placed—immersed) there by the promised Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). This was not possible until the diffusion of Christ at Pentecost. After that, any Jew or Gentile could receive the Lord via the Spirit and be born into the family of God. Christ, the Head of the spiritual family inherited God’s promise to share it with all who are in Him, who are “joint-heirs” (Ro 8:17)." (Lovett's Lights on Galatians) Inheritance (2817)(kleronomia from kleros = lot + némo = give or distribute) is literally that which is distributed by lot and so refers to a portion which one receives by lot in a general distribution and then, in a more general sense means to possess oneself of, to receive as one's own, to obtain. In other words it can refer to a property already received as well as one that is expected. Although kleronomia is an inheritance which one receives by lot, in the NT the idea of chance associated with the lot is not found. POSB on inheritance - The inheritance given to Abraham is that of righteousness (JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH), of being accepted by God and given the privilege of living forever with Him in the new heavens and earth. The inheritance was not given to Abraham by law, that is, Abraham could not earn, win, or merit it; but as Scripture declares: "God gave it [the inheritance] to Abraham by promise." The same promise is given to believers, that is, to all those who walk in the faith of Abraham: the promise of being counted righteous and acceptable to God, and of being given the privilege of living forever in the new heavens and earth. (See John 14:1-2, Galatians 3:29+, Titus 3:7+, 2 Peter 3:10-13+). It would seem reasonable to see the inheritance as beginning with the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are justified by faith and supernaturally, eternally placed into Christ Jesus Who is Heir of everything and with Whom all believers are joint heirs throughout eternity! This is amazing grace indeed! As Paul says in Romans 8:16-17+ "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if (SINCE WE ARE) children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." Peter described the believer's eternal inheritance - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5+) THOUGHT (H A Ironside) - Perhaps, reader, you have been struggling for years to fit yourself for God’s presence, you have been trying hard to work out a righteousness of your own, “trying to be a Christian.” Let me beg of you, stop trying, give it up! You cannot become a Christian by trying any more than you could become the Prince of Wales by trying. You are what you are by birth. You are what you are as a sinner by natural birth, and you become a child of God through second birth, through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:3-8 ). The blessing of Abraham is yours when you receive it by faith. John
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Guzik - Some protest and say, “I’m not a prisoner to sin.” There is a simple way to prove it: stop sinning. But if you can’t stop sinning, or ever have a record of sin, then you are imprisoned by the law of God. THE LAW PREPARES THE WAY FOR THE GOSPEL So that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe - Notice the emphasis on faith (by faith...those who believe) Amplified = "so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him]. " So that - purpose clause - The purpose of the Law shutting every human being under the power of sin is so that we might hear, receive and believe the Gospel ("The promise by faith in Jesus Christ"). And so we see that the Law is not opposed to the Promises of God, because the Law works like God's "sheep dog" to herd us toward the promises. As Donald Campbell says "When people recognize this and give up attempts to please God by their own works, the way is prepared for them to receive the promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ." Compare similar thought in Romans 11:32+ "For God has shut up (sugkleio/sunkeio) all in disobedience (apeitheia = unwillingness to be persuaded, willful unbelief, obstinacy) SO THAT (PURPOSE CLAUSE) He may show mercy to all." G. G. Findlay - Where Law has done its work well, it produces, as in the Apostle’s earlier experience, a profound sense of personal demerit, a tenderness of conscience, a contrition of heart which makes one ready thankfully to receive “the righteousness which is of God by faith.” In every age and condition of life a like effect is wrought upon men who honestly strive to live up to an exacting moral standard. They confess their failure. They lose self-conceit. They grow “poor in spirit,” willing to accept “the abundance of the gift of righteousness” in Jesus Christ. (Expositor's Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:19-24 The Design of the Law) Martin Luther writes that Paul had just stated that "the Scripture has shut up all under sin." Forever? No, only until the promise should be fulfilled. The promise, you will recall, is the inheritance itself or the blessing promised to Abraham, deliverance from the Law, sin, death, and the devil, and the free gift of grace, righteousness, salvation, and eternal life. This promise, says Paul, is not obtained by any merit, by any law, or by any work. This promise is given. To whom? To those who believe. In whom? In Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3 Commentary) The promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe: The promise is that through the Seed of Abraham, the Messiah, Christ Jesus, all the nations would be blessed, the ultimate blessing being eternal life in Christ which is realized only in those men and women, boys and girls, who express genuine belief in Christ. Spurgeon on faith in Jesus Christ - Paul constantly comes back to this point: that salvation is all of grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
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Guzik adds that part of the reason the law was given was to restrain the transgression of men through clearly revealing God’s holy standard. God had to give us His standard so we would not destroy ourselves before the Messiah came. But the law is also added because of transgressions in another way; the law also excites man’s innate rebellion through revealing a standard, showing us more clearly our need for salvation in Jesus (Romans 7:5-8+). ILLUSTRATIONS OF PROVOKING EFFECT OF THE LAW - In Galveston, Texas, a hotel on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico put this notice in each room - "No Fishing From the Balcony" Yet every day, hotel guests threw in their lines to the waters below. Then the management decided to take down the signs--and the fishing stopped! The Law shows sin and stimulates sin! Did the Prohibition Act stop drinking? No, in many ways it made drinking more attractive to people. Once God draws a boundary for us, we are immediately enticed to cross that boundary - which is no fault of God or His boundary, but of our sinful hearts. Transgressions (3847)(parabasis from para = beyond, aside + baino = step) means to step on one side and thus is primarily a going aside, a stepping across a line, an overstepping or stepping over and always implies a breach of law and especially of the Law of Moses. It refers to the act of a person stepping beyond a fixed limit into forbidden territory. The point is that the law draws the line that should not be crossed or "stepped over". Where there is no law, people do not deliberately disobey God but they still disobey in ignorance. Vine adds "it is always used of a breach of law, Romans 4:15, and particularly of the Mosaic Law, Ro 2:23; Heb 2:2; Heb 9:15, but also of the prohibition in Eden, Ro 5:14; 1 Ti 2:14." To repeat a statement made by Stott above "It is the law which turns ‘sin’ into ‘transgression’, showing it up for what it is, a breach of the holy law of God." Having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator: - Agency of is literally "in hand" idiomatically "by the hand of" or "by the agency of." (e.g., Septuagint of Lev 26:46 = "by the hand of" or "agency of" Moses) The Law "was ordained (ED: commanded, administered) through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect]" (Amplified) Moses describes himself as a mediator in Deuteronomy declaring “The LORD spoke to you (ISRAEL) face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire, while I was standing between the LORD and you (ISRAEL) at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain. (Deuteronomy 5:4-5) Some commentaries say it was not Moses who was the Mediator but that the angels were the "go between" for Moses when he received the Law from God. The NET Note agrees in part writing "Many modern translations (NASB, NIV, NRSV) render this word, mesites; here and in Gal 3:20) as "mediator," but this conveys a wrong impression in contemporary English. If this is referring to Moses, he certainly did not "mediate" between God and Israel but was an intermediary on God's behalf. Moses was not a mediator, for example, who worked for compromise between opposing parties. He instead was God's representative to his people who enabled them to have a relationship, but entirely on God's terms." So in some way God's angels were involved in the giving of the Law. Since several Old Testament passages alluded to the angelic role in giving the Law, this passage would speak especially to those who had a Jewish background (and were more likely to be trying to perfect their flesh by keeping the Law rather than by faith and the Spirit - Gal 3:2-3+). Acts 7:53+ you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it. This was not a new idea made up by Paul; it was already a Jewish belief. Although it is not mentioned in Exodus, Jews believed that the Ten Commandments had been given to Moses by angels. Hebrews 2:2+ For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, Gene Getz - Informed Jews knew that thousands upon thousands of angels accompanied the Lord in revealing the old covenant at Mount Sinai (Dt 33:2; Ps 68:17; cp. Gal 3:19). To complicate the theological situation, Jewish scribes added substantially to what the Holy Spirit had revealed about angels in the Old Testament. Consequently, the author of Hebrews addressed an audience that had an Old Testament perspective distorted by false teaching. In response, the author skillfully wove together seven Old Testament references to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is far superior to angels—in fact, He is God’s Son and angels worship Him. Though many Jews struggled with this truth, in light of the complete New Testament revelation we know the great reality that Jesus Christ is the eternal God (Heb 1:8; Jn 1:5-14). (Life Essentials) Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. Herbert Lockyer - Great numbers of angels attended the divine Majesty on Mount Sinai in the giving forth of His law (Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalm 68:17). (All the Angels of the Bible) Dt 33:2 He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones (Septuagint - Lxx translates "holy ones" as "aggelos" in the plural = angels); At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them. MacArthur on holy ones - Probably a reference to the angels who assisted God when the law was mediated to Moses at Mt. Sinai (see Ac 7:53+; Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2+). (MacArthur Study Bible) Henry
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Guzik adds that "The bars of our sin are strong; we can’t saw through them ourselves. There is no chance of a jailbreak. Instead, an offer is made by the warden Himself to simply open the door and walk out – but you have to acknowledge you are confined, that you deserve to be in the cell, and ask Him to free you. When the prosecutor accuses the warden of not being just, the warden simply points out that the freed prisoner’s sentence was completely fulfilled – by Himself! Turnaround Expert Read: Galatians 3:22-4:7 | When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. —Galatians 4:4 Members of The Turnaround Management Association are rarely asked to join successful companies. Instead, these skilled professionals are called into ailing businesses to help get them back on their feet. The same need for dramatic change exists throughout society. People who can reverse the downward spiral in an individual’s life, a relationship, or a team are constantly in demand. But what about changing the world? Many people would say that only God can do that. And that’s exactly what He sent His Son to do. The Bible describes humanity’s downward spiral by saying that the entire world was imprisoned by sin and “in bondage” (Galatians 3:22; 4:3). Into that hopeless situation Jesus came “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (4:5). The personal turnaround for us begins when we accept God’s offer of eternal life in Christ and receive His Spirit into our hearts (v.6). Rather than simply being given a new set of rules and sent off on our own, we are adopted into God’s family. Jesus Christ is the ultimate turnaround expert. He specializes in impossible cases. Will you invite Him into your life today? -- David McCasland The Lord will turn your life around If you'll invite Him in; Then you'll at once be heaven-bound, No longer chained by sin. —Hess When we choose to follow Jesus, our whole life changes direction. Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Greek - Pro tou de elthein (AAN) ten pistin hupo nomon ephrouroumetha (1PIPI) sugkleiomenoi (PPPMPN) eis ten mellousan (PAPFSA) pistin apokaluthenai (APN) Amplified: Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed), Phillips Before the coming of faith we were all imprisoned under the power of the Law, with our only hope of deliverance the faith that was to be shown to us. Wuest But before the aforementioned faith came, under law we were constantly being guarded, being shut up with a view to the faith about to be revealed. (Eerdmans Publishing) NET Galatians 3:23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. GNT Galatians 3:23 Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα συγκλειόμενοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι, NLT Galatians 3:23 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. KJV Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ESV Galatians 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ASV Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. CSB Galatians 3:23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. NIV Galatians 3:23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. NKJ Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. NRS Galatians 3:23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. YLT Galatians 3:23 And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, NAB Galatians 3:23 Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. NJB Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, locked up to wait for the faith which would eventually be revealed to us. GWN Galatians 3:23 We were kept under control by Moses' laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed. BBE Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in prison under the law, waiting for the revelation of the faith which was to come. But before faith came: Ga 3:19,24,25 4:1-4 Heb 12:2 we were kept in custody under the law: Ga 4:4,5,21 5:18 Ro 3:19 6:14,15 1Co 9:20,21 being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed: Lu 10:23,24 Heb 11:13,39,40 1Pe 1:11,12 Galatians 3:23-29 Under the Law or in Christ? - John MacArthur Galatians 3:23: Under Arrest - C H Spurgeon Galatians 3:23: Under Arrest (Notes) - C H Spurgeon Galatians 3 Commentary - Martin Luther Galatians 3:23-29 The Tutor and the Sons - Phil Newton Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse - Kenneth Wuest Galatians 3 Resources - Multiple semons, commentaries, etc (including those below) Law Keeps Us in Custody THE LAW SERVED AS A GUARD But before faith came - Before faith came is where all men were as Paul describes for example in Romans 1:18-21. John Stott explains "What We Were Under the Law (Gal 3:23, 24) In a word, we were in bondage. The apostle uses two vivid similes in verses 23 and 24, in which the law is likened first to a prison, in which we were held captive, and then to a tutor, whose discipline was harsh and severe." (The Message of Galatians) Martin Luther comments on before faith came - The Apostle proceeds to explain the service which the Law is to render. Previously Paul had said that the Law was given to reveal the wrath and death of God upon all sinners. Although the Law kills, God brings good out of evil. He uses the Law to bring life. God saw that the universal illusion of self-righteousness could not be put down in any other way but by the Law. The Law dispels all self-illusions. It puts the fear of God in a man. Without this fear there can be no thirst for God's mercy. God accordingly uses the Law for a hammer to break up the illusion of self- righteousness, that we should despair of our own strength and efforts at self-justification. (Galatians 3 Commentary) Faith (pistis)(Literally = "the faith") in this context refers to the faith just mentioned in Gal 3:22-note. Faith in Christ alone releases people from bondage to law, whether the Mosaic law (which speaks to the Jews), or the law written on the hearts of Gentiles as Paul described in Romans 2: For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (Ro 2:14-16-note)