Galatians 3:23-25

TEXT 3:23-25

(23) But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24) So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.

PARAPHRASE 3:23-25

23 Wherefore, before the gospel was published, we were kept in durance under lawthe law of nature and of Moses; shut up together as criminals whom these laws had condemned, to make us embrace the law of faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 So that the law of nature and of Moses, by making us sensible of the impossibility of being meritoriously justified by works, hath in all ages been our pedagogue to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith gratuitously.
25 But the law of faith being promulgated, we in that dispensation are no longer under the pedagogue. There is no occasion for the law as a pedagogue to bring us to Christ.

COMMENT 3:23

But before faith came we were kept in ward under the law

1.

That is, before faith in Jesus, before the gospel was published.

2.

The law serves as a prison, keeping men from evil deeds and enforcing an outward behaviour.

shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed

1.

Law existed until the day of faith.

a.

John declared a new lamb to take away sin. John 1:29

b.

Jesus preached the new birth. John 3:3

c.

John declared his purpose in writing. John 20:30-31

d.

At Pentecost a new Spirit was declared. Acts 2:38

e.

The apostles declared a new Gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

2.

A new revelation eliminates the authority of the old.

COMMENT 3:24

is become our tutor

1.

McGarvey states that most families had a slave, who served as a tutor or who took the child to the teacher. He had charge of him from childhood to manhood to shield and protect him.

2.

He affirms that the law was such a tutor to bring those under its care to a state of development fit for society and fellowship of Christ, the spiritual father.

that we might be justified by faith

1.

Not justified by the work of the law, but faith.

2.

This phrase is repeated much in the Scriptures but many do not believe the truthfulness of it.

3.

He does not say faith alone. This is not all of it.

WORD STUDY 3:24

The tutor (paidagogospie dah go GOSS) was the slave who was in general charge of the children in a Greek family. He was responsible for discipline, physical training, and protection. He was not the teacher of the children; he was their escort to school. He at all times tried to guard them against evil and immoral influences. Until the child came of age, he was under the constant scrutiny of this guardian slave.

Notice how closely this ties in to the argument in chapter four concerning the minor child. Although he is destined to inherit everything, as long as he is a child, he is no better than the slave who guards and governs him. The Children of Israel were confined under the guardianship of the Law, until Christ came.

COMMENT 3:25

we are no longer under a tutor

1.

The tutor authority ceased with the day of Pentecost when the gospel was preached.

2.

This is emphasized in many passages.

a.

Having abolished. the law of commandments. Ephesians 2:14-15

b.

Having blotted out the bond written in ordinances. nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:14

3.

The tutor was the law and Paul says that we are not under it. The Christian is strictly a new covenant person.

STUDY QUESTIONS 3:23-25

376.

What faith is referred to here?

377.

How was man inward?

378.

Under what sentence did man live inward?

379.

Define the day of faith.

380.

What purpose did the law serve as stated in this verse?

381.

How long was the law a tutor?

382.

Do we need a tutor when we learn from Christ?

383.

Does he say that faith only will justify?

384.

It is well to name the various elements stated in the word of God that do justify.

385.

Does he teach that Christ is sufficient?

386.

If Christ is sufficient, then are works of the law insufficient?

387.

Why do men hold to the law, a tutor, when Paul says we are not under it?