Galatians 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? ADDED - to the original covenant of promise; not as a codicil, but to show man's need: not inconsistent with Galatians 3:15, "No man ... addeth thereto;" for there the kind of addition meant, and therefore denied, is one that would add new conditions inconsistent with the grace of the covenant of promise. The law, though misunderstood by Judaizers as doing so, was really added for a different purpose-namely, 'because of [ ton (G3588...

When we are told that the law has no influence in obtaining justification, various suggestions immediately arise, that it must be either useless, or opposed to God’s covenant, or something of that sort. Nay, it might occur, why should we not say of the law, what Jeremiah says of the New Testament, (Jeremiah 31:31,) that it was given at a later period, in order to supply the weakness of the former doctrine? Objections of this kind must be answered, if Paul wished to satisfy the Galatians. First, then, he inquires, — what is the use of the law? Having come after the promise, it appears to have been intended to supply its defects; and there was room at least for doubting, whether the promise would have been effectual, if it had not been aided by the law. Let it be observed, that Paul does not speak of the moral law only, but of everything connected with the office held by Moses. That office...

19-22 If that promise was enough for salvation, wherefore then serveth the law? The Israelites, though chosen to be God's peculiar people, were sinners as well as others. The law was not intended to discover a way of justification, different from that made known by the promise, but to lead men to see their need of the promise, by showing the sinfulness of sin, and to point to Christ, through whom alone they could be pardoned and justified. The promise was given by God himself; the law was given by the ministry of angels, and the hand of a mediator, even Moses. Hence the law could not be designed to set aside the promise. A mediator, as the very term signifies, is a friend that comes between two parties, and is not to act merely with and for one of them. The great design of the law was, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to those that believe; that, being convinced...

Verse 19. _WHEREFORE THEN_ SERVETH _THE LAW?_] If the law does not annul the Abrahamic covenant, and cannot confer salvation on its votaries, why did God give it? This was a very natural objection, and must arise in the mind of any Jew who had paid attention to the apostle's reasoning. _IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS_] It was given that we might know our sinfulness, and the need we stood in of the mercy of God. The law is the _right line_, the _straight edge_, that determines the _obliquity_ of our conduct. Romans 4:15; and especially Romans 5:20, where this subject is largely discussed, and the figure explained. _TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME_] The law was to be in force till the advent of the Messiah. Af

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 wonderful exhibitions of the divine power at its promulgation? Why were there so many commendations of it in the Scriptures? And why were there so many injunctions to obey it? Are all these to be regarded as nothing; and is the Law to be esteemed as worthless? To all this, the apostle replies that the Law was not useless, but that it was given by God for great and important purposes, and especially for purposes closely connected with the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham and the work of the Mediator. IT WAS ADDED - (προσετέθη prosetethē). It was appended

EXPOSITION GALATIANS 3:1 O FOOLISH GALATIANS (ὦ ἀνόητοι Γαλάται). In thus apostrophizing them, the apostle brands their present behaviour, not any lack of intelligence on their part in general (comp. Luke 24:25). "Foolish"—to allow yourselves to be thus robbed of your happiness. The transporting feeling of elevation and joy with which, in Galatians 2:19, the apostle describes himself as crucified with Christ to the Law, and as living in Christ and through Christ, makes him the more keenly sensible of the senseless folly shown by the Galatians in taking up the observance of the Law. WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTHS? (τ

WHEREFORE WHY THEN SERVETH THE LAW?.... If this be the case, might an objector say, why was the law given? what ends and purposes are to be served by it? of what use can it be? there had as good been no law at all, if the inheritance is not of it, and there is no justification by it. To which it is answered, IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS; four hundred and thirty years after the covenant made with Abraham; it did not succeed it, nor take the place of it, and so make it null and void; but was over and above added unto it, for the sake of restraining transgressions; which had there been no law, men would not have been accountable for them; and they would have gone into them without fear, and with impunity; but the law was given, to lay a restraint on men, by forbidding such and such things, on pain of death; and also for the detecting, discovering, and making known transgressions,...

Paul, writing, to those changeable Galatians, who had so soon deserted the faith, says to them in this chapter Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you._ Paul does not compliment them on being a very «thoughtful,» «educated» «cultured» people; he does not care an atom about that matter, but because they had forsaken the simple truth of the gospel, he says, «O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?» Those are hard words, Paul! Why did he not say, «Who has led you forward into more advanced views?» Not he; he calls it witchery, the work of the devil, and it is nothing better; and the wisdom of it is no better than the trickery of some old witch. If you take your eyes off Christ, it must be witchcraft that makes you do it. There is

WHEREFORE THEN The answer is sixfold: (1) The law was added because of transgressions, that is, to give to sin the character of transgression. (a) Men had been sinning before Moses, but in the absence of law their sins were not put to their account. (Romans 5:13). The law gave to sin the character of "transgression," that is, of personal guilt. (b) Also, since men not only continued to transgress after the law was given, but were provoked to transgress by the very law that forbade it; (Romans 7:8); the law conclusively proved the inveterate sinfulness of man's nature. (Romans 7:11). (2) The law, therefore, "concluded all under sin." ...

GALATIANS 3:19 no,moj* tw/n paraba,sewn ca,rin prosete,qh {A} Inattentive copyists have produced several quite idiosyncratic readings: D* reads, “It was established on account of traditions”; F G _al_ read, “Why then the law of actions? It was established until …”; î46 reads, “Why then the law of actions?” and omits the other words altogether. The text is strongly supported by a A B C Y _al_....