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Galatians 3:17-29

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

17. And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18. For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise. 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. 20. Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. 21. [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:17-29 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Galatians 3:17

Theological / Devotional

Covenant, that was confirmed. Paul here alludes to God’s assurances to Abraham of the certain fulfillment of the covenant promise concerning a “seed” (see on Gen. 15:13, 16; 22:15-17; Gal 3:16; Heb. 6:13-18).

In Christ. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of these words.

The law. That is, the entire legal system under which Israel was constituted a theocracy at Mt. Sinai, including the moral law, which was proclaimed by God in person, and the ceremonial system promulgated through Moses.

Four hundred and thirty years. See Vol. I, p. 184. This period spans the interval from God’s original call to Abraham, to the establishment of Israel as a nation at the time of the Exodus (see on Gen. 12:3, 4; see on Ex. 12:40). This was the time of sojourn, first in Canaan and then in Egypt, between the promise to make of the Hebrews a nation and to establish them in the land of Canaan, and the fulfillment of that promises. Paul is here concerned particularly with the covenant promise at the beginning of the period and the giving of the law at its close, the law under which Israel was to function as a theocracy until the crucifixion (see DA 737, 738).

Cannot disannul. See on v. 15.

Make the promise. The legal system ordained by God at Mt. Sinai (see p. 933; see on ch. 2:16) cannot replace, or in any wise alter, the provisions of the covenant (see on ch. 3:15). Specifically, “the law” did not provide a new means of salvation; it did not establish a system of righteousness by works to take the place of, or to compete with, the promise of righteousness by faith in the coming Messiah (vs. 6-8, 14). Accordingly, men were saved by faith between Sinai and the cross. For the relation of the law to the covenant see on v. 19.

By SdaBc