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"Under the curse..."

Text: Galatians 3:10b

A SOBERING REMINDER

Those who strongly advocated the works of the law in order to find justification appear to have forgotten a sobering truth. Paul highlighted this in the following text.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse;
for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’

Galatians 3:10

TWO PARTS OF THE LAW

The Law given to Israel had two very distinct component parts:-

1. Proclamation of Blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

2. Proclamation of Curses (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

Both components should be given equal attention. Those who promoted the keeping of the law for justification conveniently avoided the latter component, the curses that come when people do not keep the law perfectly.

UNDER THE CURSE

Paul felt that he needed to highlight this point, in his battle against the false teachers.

1. “As many as are of the works of the law”

a) The advocates would include the false teachers.

b) The Galatians who were unduly influenced by the false teachers.

c) Their focus is doing the works of the Law to obtain justification from God.

2. Under the curse of the law

a) This was a solemn reality that Paul had to bring up.

b) It cannot be ignored.

c) Its strength is to be found in the phrase “It is written”.

i) It is a reference to the Scriptures… “the book of the law”.

ii) The implications of the Scriptures must be given due consideration.

iii) The authority of the Scriptures must be borne in mind.

3. Who would be penalised?

a) All who want to come under the law.

b) All who fail to keep the law perfectly.

c) All would be judged and condemned… for no one can keep the law perfectly.

d) The false teachers had conveniently hidden this sobering truth from those they teach.