Galatians 3:19
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The law wasn't a direct part of God's original promise to Abraham; it was added as a temporary measure to expose transgressions. This purpose meant the law, mediated through angels and Moses, highlighted sin's severity until Christ, the promised "seed," arrived to fulfill the promise.
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)
Paul is addressing the Galatians, who are being swayed by false teachers to rely on the Jewish law for their righteousness, rather than on faith in Christ. He's been explaining that Abraham was declared righteous by faith before the law was even given, emphasizing that salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned by works. He's arguing that the law doesn't nullify God's promise, but rather serves a temporary, preparatory role.
Paul asks a burning question: 'Why then the law?' If salvation is by promise, what was the point of all those commandments? It wasn't an afterthought, but a purposeful 'addition'.
The law wasn't given to justify people, but to reveal their transgressions. Think of it like a doctor diagnosing an illness.
Revealing Transgression
God gave the law to make sin clear. It wasn't just about actions, but about understanding those actions as direct violations against God's commands. As Romans 3:20 says, 'By the law comes only the knowledge of sin.'
A Temporary Guardian
The law served as a temporary guardian, like a fence around a valuable garden. Its purpose was to show people their sinfulness and their desperate need for the promised Seed, Christ. This held true until Christ, the fulfillment of the promise, arrived.
The giving of the law wasn't a casual event; it involved angelic hosts and a mediator. But what does this tell us about the law's place in God's grand plan compared to the promise?
The way the law was given highlights its secondary status compared to the promise made directly by God.
Angelic Involvement
The text states the law was 'ordained by angels'. This signifies that the law, while divine in origin, was mediated through heavenly beings. This isn't to diminish the law's importance, but to show it wasn't the communication of the ultimate promise.
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The Mediator's Role
The law was given 'in the hand of a mediator' – generally understood to be Moses. This intermediary role further emphasizes that the law was a covenant between God and the people, facilitated by human agency, unlike the direct, unconditional promise given to Abraham.
A Contrast in Authority
This layered transmission of the law (God -> angels -> Moses -> people) contrasts sharply with the direct impartation of the promise by God Himself. It shows the law was a specific, appointed arrangement for a particular time, subordinate to the eternal promise of God.
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.
Paul emphasizes that the Mosaic Law wasn't part of the original promise to Abraham but was added later. Its role was temporary, highlighting sin and acting as a 'guardian' until Christ, the true fulfillment of God's promise, arrived.
~2000 BC
God's Promise to Abraham
God promises Abraham that through his offspring, all nations will be blessed, establishing a covenant of grace based on faith.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
God gives the Mosaic Law, mediated by Moses and reportedly involving angels, to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC - c. AD 30
The Law's Era of Ministry
The Law serves its purpose of revealing sin and acting as a temporary guardian until the coming of Christ.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Christ
Jesus Christ, the promised 'seed,' is crucified, fulfilling the Law's penal function and initiating the new covenant.
This passage explains that where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, echoing how the law, by revealing transgressions, actually made sin more apparent, aligning with Galatians 3:19's 'because of transgressions'.
Romans 7:7Paul directly states, 'What then shall we say? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Yet, I would not have known what sin was except through the law.' This powerfully supports the idea that the law's purpose was to expose sin, as stated in Galatians 3:19.
Galatians 3:24This verse calls the law a 'guardian until Christ came,' which perfectly complements the idea in Galatians 3:19 that the law was a temporary measure put in place 'until the offspring should come'.
Deuteronomy 5:5This Old Testament passage describes Moses standing 'between the LORD and you' to convey God's words, directly illustrating the 'mediator' mentioned in Galatians 3:19, specifically referring to Moses in this context.
Acts 7:53Stephen recounts that the Jews 'received the law as it was administered by angels but have not kept it,' which directly parallels and supports the mention of the law being 'put in place through angels' in Galatians 3:19.
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 a direct part of God's original promise to Abraham; it was added as a temporary measure to expose transgressions. This purpose meant the law, mediated through angels and Moses, highlighted sin's severity until Christ, the promised "seed," arrived to fulfill the promise.
Paul is addressing the Galatians, who are being swayed by false teachers to rely on the Jewish law for their righteousness, rather than on faith in Christ. He's been explaining that Abraham was declared righteous by faith before the law was even given, emphasizing that salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned by works. He's arguing that the law doesn't nullify God's promise, but rather serves a temporary, preparatory role.
Paul is addressing the Galatians, who are being swayed by false teachers to rely on the Jewish law for their righteousness, rather than on faith in Christ. He's been explaining that Abraham was declared righteous by faith before the law was even given, emphasizing that salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned by works. He's arguing that the law doesn't nullify God's promise, but rather serves a temporary, preparatory role.
"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 a direct part of God's original promise to Abraham; it was added as a temporary measure to expose transgressions. This purpose meant the law, mediated through angels and Moses, highl…
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Last reviewed October 2026
