The Design and the Duration of the Law

Galatians 3:19–20 (NIV),

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. ²⁰ A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

"When we teach that a man is justified without the law and works, the question cloth necessarily follow: why then was the law given? Also, why cloth God charge us and burden us with the law, if it do not justify?" [1]  The answer Paul provides is "because of transgressions."  "Because of transgressions might mean 

(1) “to provide a sacrificial system to deal temporarily with transgressions,” 

(2) “to teach people more clearly what God requires and thereby to restrain transgressions,” 

(3) “to show that transgressions violated an explicit written law,” or 

(4) “to reveal people’s sinfulness and need for a savior” (cf. Rom. 3:20: “through the law comes knowledge of sin”)." [2]

Luther understands this in terms of the "double use of the Law."  One, "The first use, then, of laws is to bridle the wicked. For the devil reigneth throughout the whole world, and enforceth men to all kinds of horrible wickedness." [3]   And Secondly, "Another use of the law is theological or spiritual, which is (as Paul saith) “to increase transgressions;” that is to say, to reveal unto a man his sin, his blindness, his misery, his impiety, ignorance, hatred and contempt of God, death, hell, the judgment and deserved wrath of God." [3]

An interesting aspect of the Law and sinful human nature is that it not only shows us our sinfulness, but due to our falleness it incites us to try harder to justify ourselves. "Now the foolishness of man’s heart is so great, that when the law hath its office and terrified his conscience, he cloth not only not lay hold upon the doctrine of grace, but seeketh to himself more laws to satisfy and quiet his conscience. “If I live,” saith he, “I will amend my life. I will do this and that.”" [3]

But the Law has it limitations.  "It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come."   "When Paul addeth, “Till the seed should come to whom the promise was made,” he setteth a limit to the law. For it ought to be known how long the power and tyranny of the law ought to endure, which revealeth sin, and the wrath of God. They whose hearts are touched with an inward feeling of these matters, should perish, if they received not comfort and hope. Therefore if the days of the law be not shortened, no flesh should be saved. How long then ought the dominion of the law to endure? Until the seed come; to wit, that seed, of which it is written: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” [3]

"The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one." [4]  God used angels to communicate with Moses.  A mediator is a middleman between two parties.  The fact that Moses mediated the Law implies a mediation between God and Israel. But when God gave the promise to Abraham he acted alone. It's fulfillment did not depend on Abraham.  "The fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham by the inclusion of the Gentiles in the people of God also demonstrates the unity of God more clearly than the Sinai covenant because it shows His sovereignty over all creation (Rom. 3:29, 30)."[5] 

"The principal point of the law in true Christian divinity is to make men not better, but worse; that is, it showeth them their sin, that by the knowledge thereof, they may be humbled, bruised and broken, and by this means driven to seek comfort, and so come to that blessed seed, Christ." [6]

Father, how deceitful sin is.  What an outrage that the very device that You intended to bring us to despair so often inspires us to try harder -- to be more law-abiding.  We hear "do or die" and we try to do more and more leading to more and more discouragement.  Yet Your mercy cries to us apart from the Law: "look and live". We survive the scourge of the Law by doing less.  Who would have thought.  For it was Christ who did it all.  He is the end of the Law.  Thanks be unto You, God who has given to us the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Law is a bull-whip that keeps us broken and bruised. Christ comes to us today to bring comfort and hope.  For anyone of us that are in Christ are free from all condemnation.  

Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all. [7]

Praise be unto Jesus! 

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1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:19). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2250). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

4. The New International Version. 2011 (Ga 3:19–20). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

5. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ga 3:20). Nashville: T. Nelson.

6. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:20). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

7. Words & Music: Philip P. Bliss, Sun­shine for Sun­day Schools, 1873