The Law: Our Schoolmaster (Galatians 3)

Scripture reading – Galatians 3

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.

Galatians 3

In Galatians 3, Paul addressed a present danger that was dividing the churches in Galatia and threatening to pervert the Gospel (Galatians 1:7; 3:1-5). Having recounted his public confrontation with Peter in Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14), Paul turned to a doctrinal error that had crept into the churches. He spared no words in his letter, which would have been read aloud in the churches. He loved the Galatian believers and had served and lived among them; however, their tolerance of false teachers and doctrinal error demanded strong words.

Paul’s Reproof: The Danger of Being “Bewitched” by False Doctrine (Galatians 3:1)

Paul appealed to the believers’ personal experience of salvation, calling them to the “Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith” (Galatians 3:1-5). Calling the Galatians foolish [unthinking; senseless], Paul asked, “Who hath bewitched [cast a spell upon; fascinated] you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth [publicly portrayed], crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1). Rather than following the truth of Christ crucified, the foolish Galatians had been charmed by the personalities of false teachers and led astray (Galatians 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Paul’s reproof of the Galatians continued with a series of questions (Galatians 3:2-5).

“Received ye the Spirit [Holy Spirit] by the works of the law [i.e., keeping the Law of Moses and the Commandments], or by the hearing [the message] of faith [belief; trust; conviction]?” (Galatians 3:2).

“Are ye so foolish [senseless; ignorant]? having begun [commenced] in [by] the Spirit [your walk in faith],are ye now made perfect [complete] by the flesh [works of the flesh and the Law]?” (Galatians 3:3).

“Have ye suffered [perhaps persecution or rejection] so many things in vain [to no purpose]? if it be yet in vain [for nothing]” (Galatians 3:4).

“He [God] therefore that ministereth [supplies] to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles [mighty deeds] among [in; by; through] you, doeth he [God] it by the works [deeds] of the law, or by the hearing [message] of faith [hearing and believing]?” (Galatians 3:5).

“He [God] therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit [i.e., It is the Spirit that works in and through us], and worketh miracles [mighty deeds] among [in; by; through] you, doeth he [the Spirit] it by the works [deeds] of the law, or by the hearing [message] of faith [hearing and believing]?” (Galatians 3:5).

The Galatian believers professed to have “received the Spirit” by faith; however, the Judaizers had led some away from the Truth and persuaded them to add circumcision and the demands of the Law to their faith, as though these were necessary to complete their salvation (Acts 15:1; Galatians 5:2-4; 6:12).

Paul challenged the Galatian believers to examine their salvation. Had they received the Spirit “by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2). Having begun by the Spirit, would they now be “made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). Had they suffered persecution in vain? (Galatians 3:4). Did God work miracles among them “by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5)?

Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith (Galatians 3:6-14)

Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find passages about salvation through men’s works, yet the apostle had to withstand the Galatians’ twisted thoughts. Defending the “Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith,” Paul cited a passage in Genesis to show that the works of the Law could not save (Galatians 3:6-14; Genesis 15:6).

Paul asserted that Abraham was a man of faith, for he “believed God, and it was accounted [imputed] to him for righteousness” (Galatians 3:6; Genesis 15:6). By faith, believers are “the children of Abraham” and “blessed with faithful Abraham,” recipients of God’s love, mercy, and grace (Galatians 3:7-9).

He then reasoned with the Galatians about the nature of a covenant: once confirmed, it cannot be set aside or added to (Galatians 3:15). The law, which came 430 years later, could not “disannul” the covenant of promise God made with Abraham and his “seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16-17; Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; 22:18). If a sinner cannot be saved by the “works of the law,” then to what end was the law given? (Galatians 3:19).

Closing thoughts–

If the law was not given for salvation, what purpose did it serve? Paul addressed one of many purposes of God’s law, describing it as “our schoolmaster [guardian; tutor] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

God’s moral law reveals sin, its consequences, and humanity’s depravity (Romans 3:20; 7:7). In contrast, the Gospel proclaims God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, drawing sinners to saving faith. As a spiritual schoolmaster, the law directs sinners to trust Christ as Savior and Redeemer (Galatians 3:24-26; 4:4-5).

Study Questions

1) Paul called the Galatians foolish because they had followed false teachers and were trying to be “made perfect[whole, acceptable to God] by the flesh.” What are some ways believers are tempted to add their own works to the finished work of Christ?

2) Why do you think that no one can be justified by the works of the law (Galatians 3:10–11)? What does it mean that Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13)?

3) In what way do the law and commandments serve as our “schoolmaster” [guardian]? (Galatians 3:19, 24)