Galatians 3:21-25
Summary for Gal 3:21-25: 3:21-25 a See Rom 7:7-13 b. 3:21 c No conflict of purpose exists between law and promise, or between law and faith. Law partners with the promise in bringing people to faith in Christ. Law has its proper roles of declaring people prisoners of sin (3:19 d, 22 e) and of restraining sin (3:23-25 f). In Galatia, the Judaizers tried to convince Gentile Christians that the law could do something it was never intended to do—give ... new life and make people right with God. God does these things on the basis of faith in his promise, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see 3:22 g).3:22 h we are all prisoners of sin: See Rom 3:9 i; 7:1-13 j; 11:32 k. Keeping the law is of no use in bringing salvation; only believing in Jesus Christ can bring freedom.
Summary for Gal 3:23-29: 3:23-29 l Paul contrasts the condition of God’s people under the law before Christ with their condition now under Christ. 3:23 m Because sin had imprisoned us (3:22 n), the law was a guard, keeping God’s people in protective custody . . . until the way of faith in Christ was revealed. It made God’s requirements explicit, and thus highlights the need for a Savior. The law also restrains sin by making the consequences of sin explicit.
3:24 o The law is like a child’s guardian (Greek paidagōgos, “tutor”). In Greco-Roman culture, a guardian was a faithful slave responsible for training and protecting the heir until he came of age.
3:25 p the way of faith has come: The principle of righteousness by faith was always operative (cp. 3:6-9 q), but the object of that faith and the means of appropriating it are now clear to everyone through Jesus Christ.
• we no longer need the law as our guardian: In Greco-Roman culture, a freeborn child who came of age was no longer under the discipline of a guardian, but was free to rule himself. So, too, those who are “of age” through faith in Christ are free from the guardianship of the law. They serve Christ directly as he leads by his word and Spirit.
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