Galatians 3:18-19
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“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serve 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.”
This passage is also used to show that obedience to the commandments do not bring salvation—(eternal) “inheritance.” So some were asking, “wherefore then serve the law?”—or what is the point of keeping the Ten Commandments?
Gal 3:19 holds the key to understanding the text because it shows Christians how to deduce which law is being discussed. Notice that the law described is one that was “added” to something “because of transgressions.” What is a transgression? I John 3:4 states that “sin is the transgression of the law.” Since people can only sin (transgress) when law is present (Rom. 4:15), then there must have already been a law in place to have another law added to it! Of course, the reason for this was that the ancient Israelites were sinning as do any normal human beings and, like children, needed a “schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24), a governor or baby-sitter (Gal. 4:2) until they could conduct themselves as adults!
Gal 4:19 explains that the book of the law, which some were still urging the Galatians to keep, was only a law to be kept “till the seed [Christ] should come.” Finally, verse 21 states, “Is the [book of] the law then against the promises [Plan] of God?” The answer is, of course, no. But observing the book of the law cannot justify or give anyone righteousness.
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