Galatians 3 v 24

[Bob from England]

Galatians 3 v 24 states that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

Would you interpret that to mean that the law shows us how sinful we are and then we know our need of a Saviour?

Or would you interpret it to mean that the law is in place "until Christ came"?

Or a combination of the two interpretations?

 

[Orval]

54 minutes ago, The real Bob Hutton said:

Galatians 3 v 24 states that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

Would you interpret that to mean that the law shows us how sinful we are and then we know our need of a Saviour?

Or would you interpret it to mean that the law is in place "until Christ came"?

Or a combination of the two interpretations?

 

I believe the word schoolmaster plays an important role in understanding verse 24 as it reflects the culture of the time.  The school mast was put in place to watch over the son after he was weaned and was his schoolmaster until puberty or Bar Mitzvah at age 13.  For those few years, the tutor of the son or daughter (Bat Mizvah) was responsible for teaching them the law, morals and protected them physically as well as accompany them whenever they were outside the home.  The tutor was similar to the Holy Spirit as he was to go with the children and guide them in doing and conducting themselves rightly until society said they were of age.

In like manner, the law its self teaches us right (righteousness) and how to conduct ourselves but was incomplete (because of the natural man) until we are set free in Christ.  Justified by faith means that we are declared righteous by God but we can never be righteous based on our own efforts.  We must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and being clothed in Christ’s righteousness we are declared just by God.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

 Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

I agree with you on your first point.