Galatians 3:10-12

Justification by faith proved by the inability of the Law to Justify. Galatians 3:10-12

TEXT 3:10-12

(10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. (11) Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith; (12) and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.

PARAPHRASE 3:10-12

10 But all, without exception, who seek justification by the works of the law of Moses, whether moral or ceremonial, instead of obtaining the blessing of justification, are under the curse of that law: For it is written, Most severely to be punished is every one, who doth not continue in all the precepts written in the book of the law of Moses, to do them.

11 Besides, that by works of law no one can be justified before God, is manifest from Habakkuk, who hath said nothing of men's being just by works, but hath declared, (Ch. Galatians 2:4), that the just by faith shall live eternally.

12 Also, the law of Moses doth not require faith as the means of obtaining life eternal. But it saith, He who doth these things, the judgments and ordinances of God, mentioned in Leviticus 18:1-30 shall live by them a long and happy life in Canaan.

COMMENT 3:10

as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse

1.

The blessing of justification comes by faith.

2.

Those under the law could not be justified, for all failed to keep it, thus they rested under a curse.

3.

Would this not be a contradiction to Romans 2:13, For not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers of the law shall be justified?

a.

No, for in Romans he is emphasizing that the Gentile was a responsible person.

b.

Though his law was inferior to the Jewish law, yet he would be bound by it.

4.

Now history has passed onthe law is no longer binding on the Jew.

for it is written

1.

This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 27:26.

2.

This quotation from the law itself should settle the issue.

cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them

1.

No man could live up to the lawhence all were cursed.

2.

Even the rich young ruler was not an exception.

Luke 18:18-23

a.

He broke the law of covetousness.

b.

The law, while sounding simple, is too profound for complete observance.

COMMENT 3:11

now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident

1.

What is the evidence?

a.

The evidence is expressed in the remainder of the verse For the righteous shall live by faith.

b.

This evidence here is only a summaryit has a great meaning.

2.

The brief summary is that the law itself curses righteousness by the law.

for the righteous shall live by faith

1.

This is a quotation and is repeated elsewhere: Hebrews 2:4 and Romans 1:17

2.

This, evidence is seen in at least three ways.

a.

The history of faith is evidence.

1)

Abraham is an example. Genesis 12:1-20

2)

Abel is an example. Hebrews 11:4 (offered sacrifice)

3)

Enoch is an example. Hebrews 11:5 (was translated)

4)

Noah is an example. Hebrews 11:7 (built an ark)

b.

It is evident in dealing with God that work is worth nothing without faith.

1)

Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him. Hebrews 11:6

2)

Cain is an examplehis sacrifice represented as much work, but it was not acceptable.

3)

The prophets cried out against faithless sacrifices: Hosea 12:11 and Amos 5:21

c.

It is evident in the fact that faith is the inspirer of acceptable works.

1)

If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. John 14:15

2)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6

3)

Depart from me ye cursed. Matthew 25:41

3.

Read this text again as follows: The just by faith shall live.

COMMENT 3:12

and the law is not of faith

1.

The Catholic Bible reads, Law does not rest on faith.

2.

A logical question to ask is, What is it of?

a.

Actually the law was a governmental system for a body of Jewish slaves, set free from Egypt.

1)

They needed no law under Egypt when they were under Egyptian law.

2)

The law helped to make them a nation and to bind them as a nation to God.

b.

The law was their teacher.

3.

With the law it was not so much What do you believe? as What have you done?

a.

It required obedience and a daily punishment for those who broke it.

b.

Its punishment and reward was immediate while faith like Abraham's looked more to the future.

but, He that doeth them shall live in them

1.

If you were obedient, you were permitted to live, but disobedience brought death.

a.

Leviticus 18:5 is quoted in Galatians 3:12 with the implication of death if not kept.

b.

For everyone that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. Leviticus 20:9

c.

The adulterer and adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10

d.

The ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. Exodus 21:29

e.

A disobedient son is to be stoned. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

2.

The following are some examples of death:

a.

At the hand of God.

1)

Korah. Numbers 16:32

2)

Teasing children. 2 Kings 2:24

b.

At the hands of the elders

1)

Achan. Joshua 7:18

2)

Naboth. 1 Kings 21:8-14

STUDY QUESTIONS 3:10-12

279.

What constitutes being of the works of the law?

280.

Do we have people guilty of it today?

281.

How much of the law does one need to practice to be under the law?

282.

Define the curse.

283.

What text did Paul quote to prove his point?

284.

The rich young ruler claimed to have kept the law perfectly, but what law had he broken?

285.

Did this one thing bring him under the curse?

286.

What does he mean is evident?

287.

What is evidence?

288.

Why cannot people see itif the evidence is present?

289.

Will a man live more righteously by faith than by law?

290.

What have men been caused to do by faith?

291.

Is work displeasing to God when it is done without faith? Give example.

292.

Did the prophets speak similarly to Paul in regard to faith and work?

293.

What is meant by law is not of faith?

294.

What is the law of, if it is not of faith?

295.

What did the law propose to do?

296.

Was the punishment of the law immediate?

297.

Give some examples of its strictness and its penalties.

298.

Explain what is meant by the idea that you could live if you obeyed the law.