Galatians 3:19
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The law wasn't meant to check transgressions directly, but rather to make transgressions known and "abound," so people would realize their deep need for the promised Messiah. It was an "added" element, serving as a temporary tutor until Christ arrived.
Paul is addressing a group who are trying to blend the Old Testament Law with the Gospel, believing that adhering to the Law is necessary for salvation. He's arguing that the Law wasn't part of God's original promise to Abraham but was added later. This Law, given through angels and a mediator, served a specific, temporary purpose until Christ, the promised Seed, arrived.
If salvation comes through faith in God's promise, why did God give the Law at all? It wasn't for salvation, but it served a crucial role.
Paul clarifies that the Law wasn't meant to be a path to righteousness, but rather a spotlight on our failures. It was 'added because of transgressions' to make us acutely aware of our sin. Think of it like a doctor's diagnostic test: it doesn't heal you, but it reveals the problem so you can seek the cure. The Law showed people the extent of their disobedience and their deep need for the promised Deliverer.
The Law wasn't an eternal fixture but a temporary arrangement. What does its limited duration tell us about God's plan?
The Law served a specific purpose for a specific time: 'until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made.' This 'offspring' is Christ. The Law was like a signpost pointing towards the Messiah, guiding people until He arrived and fulfilled its purpose. Its temporary nature underscores that it was never intended to be the final or ultimate way God would relate to humanity. It was a preparatory step, a stewardship that eventually gave way to the fulfillment found in Christ.
The way the Law was given—through angels and a mediator—highlights its secondary status compared to God's direct promise.
The verse mentions the Law was 'put in place through angels by an intermediary.' This indirect delivery contrasts sharply with the promise, which came directly from God. While the involvement of angels and Moses (the intermediary) lent solemnity and authority to the Law, it also pointed to its subordinate role. God reserved the direct, personal covenant of promise for Himself, entrusting the Law's administration to heavenly and human agents. This emphasis on mediation underscores that the Law, unlike the promise, was not a direct, unmediated encounter with God's grace.
Understand the original words
parabasis · Greek Noun
An action that violates God's established law or standard. It highlights the rebellion and failure of humanity, necessitating a mediator.
mesitēs · Greek Noun
One who acts as a go-between or negotiator between two parties. In the context of the law, it refers to Moses; in the Gospel, it identifies Christ as the sole mediator between God and man.
The Law wasn't an afterthought or a mistake; it was a divinely appointed, temporary measure. Its primary role was to expose humanity's persistent sinfulness, making the need for God's promised salvation through Christ crystal clear.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
God gives the Mosaic Law to the Israelites through Moses, mediated by angels. This event established a covenant based on obedience, with specific commands and prohibitions.
c. 1446 BC - c. 4 BC
The Law's Role in Israelite History
For over 1400 years, the Law served to reveal sin, restrain transgressions, and set the Israelites apart. It highlighted humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through their own efforts.
c. 4 BC - c. AD 30
The Arrival of Jesus, the Promised Seed
Jesus Christ, the 'seed' to whom the promise was made, is born and begins his ministry. His life, death, and resurrection fulfill the Law's ultimate purpose.
c. AD 30-33
The Ministry and Sacrifice of Christ
Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross effectively ends the ceremonial and civil aspects of the Mosaic Law, fulfilling its purpose by providing a way to righteousness through faith.
This passage explains how the law 'came in' to make transgressions abound, highlighting its role in revealing sin and its magnitude, which aligns with Galatians' point about the law being added 'because of transgressions'.
Romans 7:7Here, Paul directly asks 'What then shall we say? Is the law sin?' and answers that the law reveals sin, especially the sin of covetousness, reinforcing the idea in Galatians that the law's purpose was to expose transgressions.
Hebrews 2:2This verse speaks of the word spoken 'through angels' and states its steadfastness, drawing a parallel to Galatians 3:19's mention of the law being 'ordained by angels', and serving as a point of comparison for the law's ultimate inferiority to Christ.
Deuteronomy 5:5This foundational Old Testament passage describes Moses standing 'between the Lord and you' to declare the Word of the Lord, directly illustrating the role of a 'mediator' mentioned in Galatians 3:19 in the context of the law's giving.
Genesis 12:3This verse contains the initial promise to Abraham that 'in you shall all the nations be blessed,' which is the core promise Paul refers back to throughout Galatians 3, showing the ultimate goal and recipient of God's plan that the law served until its fulfillment.
jfbGalatians 3:19: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."
- "Wherefore then serveth the law?" as it is of no avail for justification, is it either useless, or contrary to the covenant of God? [Calvin].added—to the original covenant of promise. This is not inconsistent with Ga 3:15, "No man addeth thereto"; for there the kind of addition meant, and th…
barnesGalatians 3:19: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."
Wherefore then serveth the law? - This is obviously an objection which might be urged to the reasoning which the apostle had pursued. It was very obvious to ask, if the principles which he had laid down were correct, of what use was the Law? Why was it given at all? Why were there so many wonder…
The law wasn't meant to check transgressions directly, but rather to make transgressions known and "abound," so people would realize their deep need for the promised Messiah. It was an "added" element, serving as a temporary tutor until Christ arrived.
Paul is addressing a group who are trying to blend the Old Testament Law with the Gospel, believing that adhering to the Law is necessary for salvation. He's arguing that the Law wasn't part of God's original promise to Abraham but was added later. This Law, given through angels and a mediator, served a specific, temporary purpose until Christ, the promised Seed, arrived.
Paul is addressing a group who are trying to blend the Old Testament Law with the Gospel, believing that adhering to the Law is necessary for salvation. He's arguing that the Law wasn't part of God's original promise to Abraham but was added later. This Law, given through angels and a mediator, served a specific, temporary purpose until Christ, the promised Seed, arrived.
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"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." — The law wasn't meant to check transgressions directly, but rather to make transgressions known and "abound," so people would realize their deep need for the promised Messiah. It was an "added" elem…
