Scriptural text: Galatians 3:18-29
The Galatian Christians were a community of believers in the region of Galatia, located in modern day Turkey. Paul’s missionary journey took him through this region and its cities.
The Galatians had received the gospel message from Paul, but there were some among them that tried to add to his message. These individuals taught that circumcision as part of adherence to the Law of Moses was a requirement for salvation. Paul declared that to be “another gospel. Paul urged the Galatians to reject the Judaizers’ addition to the gospel message.
Inheritance (Galatians 3:18-19a):
Given by Promise (v.18). The fulfillment of the promise is unaffected by the Law. For it is not dependent upon the Law, or upon the Law and the promise combined, but upon the promise alone. The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham as a free gift, and as a free gift the spiritual Canaan is thrown upon it as a free gift the spiritual Canaan is thrown open to his spiritual descendants. The Inheritance. – in the first instance, the temporal inheritance of the land of Canaan, but here understood of the spiritual blessings of the Messianic message. Gave it – The promise was given by God to Abraham freely, gratuitously, unfettered by any engagement on his side by the non fulfillment of which it may be made void. Even the darkest night of the soul does not mean we are cut off from God. Paul had an unshakable faith, that all things are under the control of God, that all things work together for good to those that love God. Faith in the sovereign God means believing that He is in control of all things. Even the evil in our world that causes the suffering of righteous people is not beyond His control. For them he did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Questions of the Law (v. 19a). If God’s inheritance came through His promise then why should God’s people continue to rely on the Law for salvation?
Law (Galatians 3:19b- 20).
The Law was added because of transgressions – It was not designed to disannul the promise, and to establish a different way of justification from that which was settled by the promise, but it was added to it, annexed on purpose to be subservient to it, and it was so because of transgressions. The apostle Paul adds that the Law was given for this purpose till the seed should come to whom the promise was made, that is, either till Christ should come, or till the gospel dispensation should take place, when Jews and Gentiles, with- out distinction, should, upon believing, become the seed of Abraham. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
Limitations of the Law (V. 21).
The Law was not intended to discover a way of justification, different from that made by the promise, but to lead men to see their need for 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 the mediator, even Moses. Hence, the Law could not be designed to set aside the promise.
Faith (Galatians 3:22- 25):
Promised in Christ (vv. 22-23). The Law did not teach a living, saving knowledge; but, by its rites and ceremonies, especially by its sacrifices, it pointed to Christ, that they may be justified by faith. And thus it was, as the word properly signifies, a servant, to lead to Christ, as children are led to school by servants who have the care for them.
References: Enduring Word Commentary, Matthew Henry Commentary, 2021-2022 Standard Lesson Commentary.