Galatians 3:19-20

Superiority of the Gospel to the Law seen in that the law was a temporary arrangement. Galatians 3:19-29

TEXT 3:19, 20

(19) What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. (20) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

PARAPHRASE 3:19, 20

19 But if the inheritance was not by the law, but by the promise as a free gift, why was the law added after the promise? It was added on account of restraining transgressions; and was to continue till the seed should come to whom it was promised, that all nations should be blessed in him; being spoken by angels who put it in the hand of Moses, as a mediator between God and the people.
20 The giving of the law by a mediator, shewed the Israelites that God was displeased with them; because a mediator is not employed between parties who are in friendship: But God is in friendship only with the righteous.

COMMENT 3:19

What then is the law

1.

If it does not annul the promise and if it can not confer salvation, why did God send it?

a.

Paul states it was added because of transgression.

b.

Further, it was only temporary.

c.

It was ordained at the hands of angels through a mediator. d. The law served a very important purpose as a tutor. Galatians 3:24

2.

Luther answers like this:

a.

That there might be a people of God rigidly controlled out of which could come Jesus Christ.

b.

That a people burdened by many laws might sigh and long for a redeemer.

c.

The ceremonies foreshadowed Christ.

d.

Therefore, the law was meant to confirm the promise until the fulness of time should come.

It was added because of transgressions

1.

It was added to show man's sinfulness and his need of the mercy of God.

2.

Men would know sin only in a general way without law.

3.

For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Romans 5:13

4.

I had not known sin, except through the law. Romans 7:7

5.

For through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

till the seed should come

1.

We have at least a two-fold purpose of the law.

a.

One is civil.

1)

Law was given to restrain sin.

2)

Law seeks to preserve the good.

b.

The other is spiritual.

1)

The law led us to graceto Jesus.

2.

This gives us the limitation.

a.

When God said forever He meant it to be until He sent Christ.

1)

It shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. Exodus 27:21

2)

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Jehovah: (passover) throughout your generations, ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. Exodus 12:14

to whom the promise hath been made

1.

Was the promise made to Jesus? No.

2.

To whom refers to the descendants of Abraham.

it was ordained through angels

1.

What is it?

a.

The promise? No.

b.

The law. Yes.

c.

It was not given by divine lips as to Abraham directly.

d.

It was given by angels.

1)

He shined forth from mount Paran and he came from the ten thousand of holy ones: at his right hand was a fiery law for them. Deuteronomy 33:2

2)

For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward. Hebrews 2:2

3)

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary. Psalms 68:17

4)

The law as it was ordained by angels. Acts 7:53

e.

This, of course, is not as great as swearing by Himself.

1)

It was given in a different way in a different manner.

2)

There was no mediator between God and Abraham.

f.

Note the limitation of the mediator.

1)

Moses was only a mediator between God and Israel, not between God and Spiritual Israel.

2)

Thus a promise to include everyone could not be altered by a covenant such as the one Moses gave.

2.

Ordained simply means that angels mediated it and it was no less divine. Cf. Hebrews 2:2, Acts 7:38; Acts 7:53

by the hand of the mediator

1.

Moses was the mediator.

I stood between Jehovah and you at that time, to show you the word of Jehovah: for ye were afraid because of the fire, and went not up into the mount. Deuteronomy 5:5

2.

There was no mediator between Abraham and God: He acted singularly.

COMMENT 3:20

now a mediator is not a mediator of one

1.

The Catholic Bible says, Now there is no intermediary where there is only one.

2.

This verse has many ideas: first, what is a mediator?

a.

A mediator signifies a middle person: There must necessarily be two parties.

1)

He acts in reference to both.

2)

He is supposed to have the interests of both equally at heart.

b.

Though Moses was a mediator between God and its one seed which is to come;

1)

He was the mediator of one part of Abraham's seed, but not the mediator of the other seed.

2)

The mediator of the Gentiles is Christ.

God is one

1.

God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Romans 3:30

a.

You can-'t be a mediator of God onlyfor God is one.

b.

God does not offend any one, therefore He needs no mediator.

2.

Hear O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. Deuteronomy 6:4

a.

The Hebrew word for one is Ethod.

1)

It means to unite.

2)

It means a compound unity.

b.

The Scriptures offer the following illustrations:

1)

One daycombining light and dark. Genesis 1:5

2)

One fleshmade two. Genesis 2:2-24

3)

One tribeone of 12. Genesis 49:16

4)

One of a cluster. Numbers 13:23

c.

It is seen also in the use of language.

1)

Motto of U.S. E Pluribus Unum a unity of manyone composed of many.

STUDY QUESTIONS 3:19, 20

348.

Are you able to answer Paul's question?

349.

Why was the law added?

350.

If it can-'t offer salvation and did not change the promise, then why was it given?

351.

To what was it added?

352.

How long was the law to last?

353.

Did not God say that the Jews were to keep the law forever?

354.

Who is referred to by the expression To whom the promise hath been made?

355.

Was the promise ordained?

356.

What does it refer to?

357.

How was it by angels?

358.

Were angels involved in the giving of the promise?

359.

Define mediator.

360.

Why did God give the law by a mediator?

361.

Does this indicate anything, the fact that the law was given by a mediator, while the promise was not?

362.

How many parties are involved when a mediator is used?

363.

Was the mediator of Moses limited in his scope?

364.

Why does he say God is one in this connection?

365.

Is it possible for God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to be one?

366.

Do we use the word one to include many?