Gálatas 3

Gálatas 3

Trapp - freely gave it. What is more free than a gift? And what better freehold than the divine promise? Wuest on grant (charizomai) - This is a specialized word. It denotes not merely a gift, but a gift which is given out of the spontaneous generosity of the giver’s heart, with no strings tied to it. The Greek word grace (charis) has the same root and the same meaning. Thus the word refers, not to an undertaking based upon terms of mutual agreement, but upon the free act of one who gives something, expecting no pay for it. This at once shows the difference between law and grace. If salvation were by obedience to the law, that would mean that it would be based upon a mutual agreement between God and the sinner whereby God would obligate Himself to give salvation to any sinner who would earn it by obedience to the law. But the very genius of the word charizomai militates against the teaching of the Judaizers, namely, that salvation is by works. There is a Greek word huposchesis which is used of an offer based upon the terms of a mutual agreement. But it is not used here. Furthermore, the verb gave is in the perfect tense here, which speaks of a past completed act having present results. The past act of God giving the inheritance on the basis of a promise, has present results, present to the writer. God gave the inheritance to Abraham by promise 2000 B.C. The results of this act were still in existence in the century when Paul wrote. The law was given 1500 B.C., and the promise still held good after the law came and had been set aside. (Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse ) William Barclay sums up this passage in a most descriptive way. "Again and again Paul comes back to the same point. The whole problem of human life is to get into a right relationship with God. So long as we are afraid of God, so long as God is a grim stranger, there can be no peace in life. How can we achieve this right relationship? Shall we try to achieve it by a meticulous and even self-torturing obedience to the law, by performing endless deeds, by observing every smallest regulation the law lays down? If we take that way we are forever in default, for man's imperfection can never fully satisfy the perfection of God; we are forever frustrated, forever climbing up a hill in which the peak never comes in sight, forever under condemnation; but if we simply abandon this hopeless struggle and bring ourselves and our sin to God, then the grace of God opens its arms to us and we are at peace with a God who is no longer judge but father. Paul's whole argument is that that is what happened to Abraham; it was on that basis that God's covenant with Abraham was made. And nothing that came in later can change that covenant any more than anything can alter a will that has already been ratified and signed." (The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians. "The Daily Study Bible." Philadelphia, PA: The Westminister Press, 1954, p.30.) TODAY IN THE WORD God in his grace gave [the inheritance] to Abraham through a promise. - Galatians 3:18 Whenever a lawyer builds a defense case, he prepares arguments and counterarguments. He needs to be able to take different vantage points, to anticipate questions and formulate answers even before those questions are asked. And that’s what Paul has been doing throughout his letter, preparing a very thorough defense of his apostleship and of the gospel. The argument goes in two directions. Paul’s ultimate aim is to dissuade the Galatians from believing they must be circumcised. His arguments are rooted in the Old Testament because it is from the Old Testament that the false teachers have twisted their faulty logic. There has been a fundamental misunderstanding of the promises made to Abraham and the purpose of the law. The Gentile converts in Galatia, now doubting their identity as Abraham’s children and heirs of the divine promises, wanted to become circumcised to guarantee their status as members of God’s family. The first direction of this argument is from an example in everyday life. Paul asks them to consider human covenants, or contracts. Can they be dissolved or annulled? When two parties mutually agree, when the covenant is confirmed by shaking hands or signing a piece of paper, it cannot be reversed without compromising the integrity of one of the parties. Now consider the covenant that God made with Abraham. God cannot compromise His character. What He has promised, He will do. His contract with Abraham is irreversible. Moreover, what He’s promised to Abraham will come through his “seed” or offspring (cf. Gen. 12:7). Galatians clarifies that the seed to which God refers in Genesis is not in fact the children of Abraham (who are many) but Christ (who is One). Christ becomes the true heir of all the divine promises made to Abraham. The second direction argues from the timeline. The promises were made to Abraham more than four centuries before the law was ever given to Moses. Could the law really supersede the promises if the promises were given first? APPLY THE WORD Our trust that God is faithful to His promises is critical to our faith. Write down the promises you find in the pages of Scriptures as you read, and prayerfully reflect on those promises. Ask God to help you believe in His faithfulness. If you’re afraid, remember that He’s promised to be with you. If you’re uncertain, remember that He’s promised wisdom. If you’re broken over sin in your life, remember He’s promised forgiveness. One stormy and extremely cold Sunday morning, a minister was on his way to church. On the road he met one of his neighbors, who, shivering miserably, said to him, ""It's very chilly, sir."" ""Oh,"" replied the minister. ""God is as good as His word."" The other, not comprehending, asked what he meant. The minister answered: ""God promised about three thousand years ago, and He still makes it good today, that 'as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat...will never cease.'"" The minister's reply was meant as a joke, but his point is true: God always keeps His covenants and promises. In today's reading Paul observes that when a human covenant is ratified, no one sets it aside or amends it, neither the author nor a second party (v. 15). Of course the implication is that if that is true with people, it is even more true with God. A second covenant, the law, could not set aside the promise made to Abraham (v. 17). The Abrahamic covenant could only be fulfilled by Christ (v. 16). Only in the infinite Son of God could all the families of the earth be blessed. But Christ is viewed in this chapter as also being the head of a new family; all who receive Him by faith become sons of Abraham in a spiritual sense (Gal. 3:28-29). A most startling and amazing truth becomes clear. The age of law was merely a parenthesis between the age of promise and the age of grace (v. 18). All of the legalistic teaching the church has endured for nearly two thousand years is entirely incompatible with the teachings of grace and the spirit of promise. APPLY THE WORD Two days ago, we suggested that you review the biblical narrative of Abraham and Sarah. If you did so, you probably found yourself held spellbound by a story filled with impossible promises, difficult journeys, angelic visitors, and obedient faith. Law and promise I. The law was restricted and conditional--“added because of transgression”: the promise was absolute and unconditional. II. The law was temporary and provisional--“until the seed should come”: the promise was permanent and eternal. III. The law was communicated indirectly--“by angels”: the promise was directly given by God (Heb 2:2-3). IV. The law was received from God through “a mediator”: the promise was received by Abraham in person. (P. J. Gloag, D. D.) The inheritance of the promises I. The promises of God to the believer AN INEXHAUSTIBLE MINE OF WEALTH. Happy is it for him if he knows how to enrich himself with their hidden treasures. II. They are AN ARMORY containing all manner of offensive and defensive weapons. Blessed is he who has learned to enter the sacred arsenal, to put on the breastplate and the helmet, and to lay his hand to the spear and the sword. III. They are A SURGERY in which the believer will find all manner of restoratives and blessed elixirs; nor lacks there an ointment for every wound, a cordial for every faintness, a remedy for every disease. Blessed is he who is well skilled in heavenly pharmacy, and knoweth how to lay hold on the healing virtues of the promises of God. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Life gift - On these streets, I have seen the poor hanging on the steps of the rich, and refusing to be ordered away; to move pity, laying bare their sores; and holding out their skinny hands to implore men’s charity. But whoever saw the rich following the poor, with a hand filled with gold;pressing money on their acceptance; stopping them; entreating, beseeching, imploring them to take it? Yet thus, to the amazement both of angels and devils, God does with you, in offering His Son; and through Him, the gift of eternal life. (Dr. Guthrie.) Salvation all of grace - Mr. McLaren and Mr. Gustart were ministers of the Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh. When Mr. McLaren was dying, Mr. Gustart paid him a visit, and put the question to him, “What are you doing, brother?” His answer was, “Doing! I’ll tell you what I am doing, brother. I am gathering together all my prayers, all my sermons, all my good deeds, all my evil deeds; and I am going to throw them all overboard, and swim to glory on the plank of free grace.” (E. Foster.) Galatians 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of (for the sake of defining) transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Greek - Ti oun o nomos ton parabaseon charin prosetethe (3SAPI) charis ou elthe (3SAAS) to sperma o epeggeltai diatageis (APPMSN) di aggelon en cheiri mesitou Amplified: What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man]. Amplified (2015) Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Phillips Where then lies the point of the Law? It was an addition made to underline the existence and extent of sin until the arrival of the "seed" to whom the promise referred. The Law was inaugurated in the presence of angels and by the hand of a human intermediary. Wuest What is then the significance of the law? For the sake of transgressions it was added, until there should come the Seed to whom the promise was made, having been promulgated by angels through the instrumentality of the hand of a mediator. (Eerdmans Publishing) NET Galatians 3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary. GNT Galatians 3:19 Τί οὖν ὁ νόμος; τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη, ἄχρις οὗ ἔλθῃ τὸ σπέρμα ᾧ ἐπήγγελται, διαταγεὶς δι᾽ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου. NLT Galatians 3:19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. KJV Galatians 3:19 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. ESV Galatians 3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ASV Galatians 3:19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. CSB Galatians 3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. NIV Galatians 3:19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. NKJ Galatians 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. NRS Galatians 3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. YLT Galatians 3:19 Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator -- NAB Galatians 3:19 Why, then, the law? It was added for transgressions, until the descendant came to whom the promise had been made; it was promulgated by angels at the hand of a mediator. NJB Galatians 3:19 Then what is the purpose of the Law? It was added to deal with crimes until the 'progeny' to whom the promise had been made should come; and it was promulgated through angels, by the agency of an intermediary. GWN Galatians 3:19 What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses' laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came.?to Abraham came."> It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator. BBE Galatians 3:19 What then is the law? It was an addition made because of sin, till the coming of the seed to whom the undertaking had been given; and it was ordered through angels by the hand of a go-between. Why the Law then? - Ro 3:1,2 7:7-13 It was added because of (for the sake of defining) transgressions: Ga 3:21-24 De 4:8,9 Ps 147:19,20 Lu 16:31 Joh 5:45-47 15:22 Ro 2:13 Ro 3:19,20 4:15 5:20,21 7:7-13 1Ti 1:8,9 until the seed would come: Ga 3:16,25 Gal 4:1-4 by angels: De 33:2 Ac 7:53 Heb 2:2,5 by the agency of a mediator: Ex 20:19-22 24:1-12 34:27-35 Lev 15:32 De 5:5,22-33 De 9:13-20,25-29 18:15-19 Ps 106:23 Jn 1:17 Ac 7:38 Galatians 3:15-22 God’s Promise: Why the Law? - John MacArthur Galatians 3:23-29 Under the Law or in Christ? - John MacArthur Galatians 3:19-29 Christian Freedom: The Logic of Law (38 minutes) - Mp3 - Warren Wiersbe Galatians 3:19: The Uses of the Law - C H Spurgeon Galatians 3:15-22 Why the Law? - Phil Newton Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse - Kenneth Wuest Galatians 3 Resources - Multiple sermons, commentaries, etc Law Shows Our Sin WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW? Why the Law then? - Paul knew they would ask, so he preempts their question with his own question. In other words Paul is simply asking "What then was the purpose of the Law?" (Amplified) If salvation was through faith even for Abraham, why did God bring in the Law 430 years later? What was the purpose of the Law? He is going to proceed to show that the law was not given to save the sinner, but to condemn the sinner, so that he might realize his need for the grace of God. As Oliver Greene says "The Law cannot save, the Law cannot sanctify, the Law cannot redeem. The Law cannot make man better. All the Law could do was to show man how exceeding sinful he was, and how hopeless he stood before GOD without the grace of GOD.Paul preached to the Galatians that the Law could neither justify, sanctify, nor satisfy the sinner." (The Abrahamic and the Mosaic Covenants - Galatians 3:15-29) Bruce Barton - Paul made four distinct observations about the law: The law could not give the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:1-5). The law could not give righteousness (Gal 3:6-9). The law could not justify; it could only condemn (Gal 3:10-12). The law could not change the fact that righteousness always comes by faith in God's promises (Gal 3:15-18). (Life Application Bible Commentary – Galatians) John Trapp on because of transgressions - Which are discovered by the law. Sight of misery must go before sense of mercy. Lex, lux, the law is a light (saith Solomon), which lays all open, as 1Co 14:25, and threateneth destruction to transgressors. It was added because of (for the sake of defining) transgressions - Paul answers his own question about "What is the purpose of the Law?" Note that the word added clearly implies that something preceded the Law. To what was the Law added? In context, the Law was added to the Promise of God (given to Abraham). The Amplified Version (combining classic and revised versions) says the LAW "was added [later on, after the promise to Abraham, to disclose and expose to men their guilt, to reveal to people their guilt - {THUS THE HAND MIRROR ABOVE}] because of transgressions and of sin [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin]." So the Law came in a sense to enable sinners to see they were in fact committing sins. The Law was like a mirror sinful men could hold up and see themselves for what they really were in the eyes of the Holy God -- rank sinners! But the Law could not "wash" them clean! Added (4369)(prostithemi) means adding to something that is already present. Vine explains the meaning in this context - "the use of the same English word here and in Galatians 3:15 does not involve any contradiction, for the Greek word there used conveys the idea of supplementing an agreement already made. Here the word is prostithēmi = "placed beside," the meaning of which may be seen in its use in such passages as Acts 2:41+; Acts 13:36+ (= "was laid among his fathers"); the apostle does not use it elsewhere in his Epistles. Hence the meaning here is not that something had been added to the promise by way of completing it, as in Galatians 3:15, but that something had been given as well as the promise, cp. "the law came in beside (pareiserchomai)," Romans 5:20ASV+." (Collected Writings of W. E. Vine) Greene - If the Law was added, just when did the Law have its beginning? The answer is found in John 1:17: "FOR THE LAW WAS GIVEN BY MOSES, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Could anything be more plainly stated? Could anything be more understandable? The Law - ALL of the Law - was given to a specific people at a specific time. The Law was given to Israel, delivered by Moses exactly as he received it from Almighty GOD on Mount Sinai....The bad news of the Law was added to the good news of GOD's grace. In other words, it was placed alongside GOD's grace to show the sinner how exceeding sinful sin is. The Law did not take the place of the grace of GOD - and it was not given to be mixed with grace. It was not intended to supplement the grace of GOD. It was added (or, as the Greek states, it was "placed alongside" GOD's grace). Therefore the Law was added (or placed alongside the Gospel of grace) to reveal to the sinner his true character, and his great need of the grace of GOD. (Ibid)" Because of (5484)(charin is the accusative of charis = grace, favor) is used as a preposition with the gentive (as in Gal 3:19), usually coming after the word it governs ("added" in Gal 3:19) and conveys the meaning for the sake of, on behalf of, for the pleasure of, on account of, by reason of ("reason" in 1 Jn 3:12). W E Vine says that charin has "two distinct meanings, (1) "on account of," pointing to the ground on which something is done, as in Ephesians 3:1, 14, see also Luke 7:47; 1 John 3:12; in these cases it is retrospective, it points back. But (2) it may also be prospective, pointing forward, as in 1 Ti 5:14; Titus 1:5, 11; Jude 1:16, and here in Gal 3:19; in these passages the purpose with which something is done is intended. 1 Ti 5:14 is probably the closest parallel to the present passage, "give none occasion to the adversary for reviling," i.e., "do nothing to provoke the adversary to speak evil of the Lord." Accordingly the words may be paraphrased "the law was added in order to provoke transgressions." (Collected Writings of W. E. Vine) Homer Kent - The translation “because of” renders a Greek word (charin) which may denote either cause or purpose. If the former is the intention, Paul’s meaning was that the law was given because man’s sinfulness was so great. The law was to act as a restraint on him. It is more consistent with Paul’s thought elsewhere, however, to regard charin as indicating purpose here, so that the meaning is: law came in order that sin might take on the character of actual transgression of clearly indicated standards. Unless there is a revealed law, sin is sinful but it is not transgression (Ro 4:15). This understanding fits well with Paul’s emphasis in this passage, for he was engaged in showing that the law did not make men righteous but served to condemn them (Gal 3:22). Charin - 8x - Lk. 7:47; Gal. 3:19; Eph. 3:1; Eph. 3:14; Tit. 1:5; Tit. 1:11; 1 Jn. 3:12; Jude 1:16. In the Septuagint - 2 Chr 7:21, Da 2:13. A sight of misery must go before a sense of mercy. Lex, lux, “the law is a light” and shows us our need of a mediator. --John Trapp In the passage below James explains that unsaved men's basic problem is that each one thinks that they are intrinsically "a good person" (How many times have you heard people say this and you just want to say to them "But I know you! I know some of the vile things you have said and done! You are so deceived to call yourself a "good person"!). James says in essence the LAW is for everyone who thinks "I am a good person." (which describes all of us before we came to faith in Christ!).... If anyone is a hearer of the word (THE LAW) and not a doer (OBEYS THE LAW ONLY WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY DEPENDING ON THE INDWELLING SPIRIT), he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror (WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS HE IS A "BAD" PERSON WHEN COMPARED TO THE GOOD GOD!); 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was (HE FORGETS THAT HE IS NOT A "GOOD PERSON" BUT IS A WRETCHED SINNER BEFORE THE HOLY GOD). 25 But one who looks intently at THE PERFECT LAW, the law of liberty (OF FREEDOM BECAUSE THE LAW LEADS US TO SEE OUR TRUE NATURE AND OUR GREAT NEED FOR A SAVIOR), and abides by it (POSSIBLE ONLY FOR BELIEVERS WHO ARE ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT), not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer (HE OBEYS THE LAW BECAUSE HE HAS THE SUPERNATURAL POWER FROM THE SPIRIT TO OBEY), this man will be blessed in what he does (SPIRIT ENABLED OBEDIENCE ALWAYS BRINGS SPIRITUAL BLESSING!). (James 1:23-25NAS+) Read it again in a different version - If anyone only listens to the word ["and is not a doer"] without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets ["what sort of person he was"] what he looked like. 25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but ["a doer of work"] an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. (James 1:23-25 Amplified 2015) And so James would say the purpose of the LAW is to function like a MIRROR OF OUR SOUL, a mirror which a man or woman looks at and clearly sees their reflection (their soul, who they really are inside, how unholy they are compared to a Holy God). That reflection does not show a good, kind, sinless person who loves God, but a selfish, self-centered, sinner who hates God and has been in continual rebellion against him from the day of his or her birth (cp Ps 51:5+)! That is the picture that the "MIRROR" OF THE LAW gives of EVERY PERSON ever born, the exception of course being our sinless Savior, Messiah Jesus. And so the LAW was added to the promise given to Abraham to show sin to be exceedingly sinful, that is, to make sin come alive to sinners! In a parallel passage in Romans Paul gives a similar explanation regarding the purpose of the LAW What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have recognized sin (Ed: Or understood what it really was in God's eyes). For I would not have known [for example] about coveting [what belongs to another, and would have had no sense of guilt {Ed: I would have had no consciousness that I was guilty and deserving of death before the Holy God}] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, “You shall not covet (Ed: See English definition of covet).” 8 But sin (Ed: "The Sin" principle inherited from Adam - Ro 5:12-note), finding an opportunity (Ed: A "beachhead" so to speak - See Greek definiton) through the commandment [to express itself] produced in me every kind of coveting and selfish desire. For without the Law sin is dead [the recognition of sin is inactive]. 9 I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death].10 And the very commandment which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring death for me. 11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, beguiled and completely deceived me, and [Lit through it killed me.] using it as a weapon killed me [separating me from God]. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. (Ro 7:7-12+ Amplified 2015). (Note: My additions are identified with "Ed:") So dearly beloved, may the Spirit of God grant us grace to "nail this truth down," to understand beyond a shadow of a doubt that one of the main purposes of God's Law is to show sinners that they are in fact sinners! By way of application, if you understand this truth, you can also see how foolish and futile it is to try to please God or merit His favor by attempting to keep the LAW in your own fleshly power rather then relying wholly on the Holy Spirit and His dispensing of grace (cp Gal 3:3+). Law and grace are polar opposites, just as are works and faith. The writer of Hebrews is quite clear that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a Rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6+) So let us clearly understand Paul's simple purpose of the Law in this passage - to show us that we are lawless. When we grasp this truth of who we were in Adam, we begin to grasp the "amazing" in God's amazing grace. And it makes us want to worship Him! Hallelujah! John Stott wrote "The function of the law was not to bestow salvation, however, but to convince men of their need of it. To quote Andrew Jukes, ‘Satan would have us to prove ourselves holy by the law, which God gave to prove us sinners.’....He elaborates this in his Epistle to the Romans: ‘through the law comes knowledge of sin’ (Ro 3:20+); ‘where there is no law there is no transgression’ (Ro 4:15+); and ‘if it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin’ (Ro 7:7+). So the law’s main work was to expose sin. It is the law which turns ‘sin’ into ‘transgression’, showing it up for what it is, a breach of the holy law of God. ‘It was added to make wrongdoing a legal offence’ (Gal 3:19, NEB). It was intended to make plain the sinfulness of sin as a revolt against the will and authority of God. And it was added till the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made (verse 19). Thus, the law looked on to Christ, Abraham’s seed, as the Person through Whom transgression would be forgiven. (The Message of Galatians)(Bold added) Spurgeon on Why then the law - The apostle, by a highly ingenious and powerful argument, had proved that the law was never intended by God for the justification and salvation of man. Some might argue that since the law cannot justify, it is useless. The apostle might have replied to his opponent with a sneer. He must have said to him, “Is a thing utterly useless because it is not intended for every purpose in the world? Will you say that, because iron cannot be eaten, therefore iron is not useful? And because gold cannot be food, will you cast it away and call it worthless? You foolishly suppose God’s LAW is good for nothing and can be of no value.” On the contrary, it serves a very definite purpose, as Paul goes on to show. The LAW was given to discover and lay bare our sin to us. Under the hand of the Holy Spirit, it makes us see the evil of sin (Jn 16:7-9). We might not have perceived sin to be sin if it had not been for the command of God not to commit it. But when the commandment comes, then we recognize sin and the evil of it. (Spurgeon quotes John Trapp now stating that) "A sight of misery must go before a sense of mercy. Lex, lux, “the law is a light,” and shows us our need of a Mediator." (Bold added)