3:20 What is the teaching underlying what Paul says here?
3:20 What is the teaching underlying what Paul says here?
In V19 we see that the law was promulgated by angels through the instrumentality of a mediator - Moses (cp V19).
A mediator is a go-between - one who helps to restore the relationship between two parties, or as in Moses' case, ratify a covenant.
However, in V20 we see that the promise of grace God made to Abraham was not in the nature of a contract between two parties and therefore no mediator is required. God acts alone when He promises salvation by grace to whoever will receive it by faith (cp Ge 22:15-18).
This proves that grace is superior to the law. Paul is very careful to point out though that the law was not against the promise. It did not negate God's will for us. It was just not able to impart life to us (cp Ga 3:21).
The purpose of the law, as we saw in our study on Ga 3:15-18, was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ came to inherit the promise and distribute the blessings to all who receive Him by faith (cp Ga 3:22-29).