UNDERSTANDING GALATIANS: THE LAW WAS ADDED

UNDERSTANDING GALATIANS: THE LAW WAS ADDED ....

Dear Mishpochah (family):

For many believers in Yeshua / Jesus as the Messiah, one of
their major stumbling blocks to embracing their Hebraic heritage in
Messiah is trying to understand the meaning of the book of Galatians.

For many believers in Yeshua / Jesus as the Messiah, GALATIANS
IS THE BIBLE. In other words, what they THINK what Paul is saying in
Galatians supercedes what is written in the Torah and the Prophets,
supercedes what Messiah said in the Gospels and supercedes Paul's
testimony in the book of Acts that he himself kept the Torah (Acts
21-26).

In a previous HHMI newsgroup article, we saw how the phrase
"works of the law" gleaned from the dead sea scroll writings referred
to the "Oral Law" and MAN'S interpretation of how to follow the
Torah. "Works of the law" did NOT mean following the WRITTEN Torah
based upon the insights from the dead sea scrolls where this phrase
was used.

In this article, we are going to try and study the meaning of
the phrase: "... the law was added ..."

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.

This verse is traditionally interpreted to mean that the "Law"
was given at Mount Sinai until the coming of the Messiah. After the
death of the Messiah on the tree, the "law" loses its purpose.

Is this really what Paul was trying to explain in Galatians 3:19 ??

WAS THE LAW ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS?

In order to understand whether is makes sense to interpret these
words to mean that the LAW was ADDED because of TRANSGRESSIONS, we
need to realize several things.

Is is possible for the law to be added because of transgressions?

WHAT IS TRANSGRESSION?

KJV 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.

SIN = TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW

IF the LAW was ADDED BECAUSE of TRANSGRESSION then it is NOT
possible to sin! You can't ever transgress / sin if the law didn't
exist prior to Mount Sinai because sin is the transgression of the
law (I John 3:4). Therefore the LAW could NOT have been
added BECAUSE of TRANSGRESSION because the law needs to exist in
order to sin which is the transgression of the law (I John 3:4)

THE TORAH IS ETERNAL

KJV Psalm 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and
ever.

KJV Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one
of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

KJV Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word
of our God shall stand for ever.

TORAH = WORD OF YHVH

Many in traditional Christianity view that the Torah is
separate from the Word of YHVH. Biblically, the Torah and the Word of
YHVH are synonymous terms.

KJV Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path.

KJV Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light
..

WORD = LAMP = Psalm 119:105
COMMANDMENT = LAMP = Proverbs 6:23

WORD = LIGHT = Psalm 119:105
LAW = LIGHT = Proverbs 6:23

KJV Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.

ZION = JERUSALEM

TORAH = WORD OF YHVH

ABRAHAM KEPT THE TORAH OF YHVH

KJV Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my
charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

MESSIAH HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW

KJV Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree:

If Messiah redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, what is the
curse of the law? The curse of the law is the PENALTY for DISOBEYING
the Torah.

.KJV Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words
of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

CURSED = NOT DO THE TORAH

DISOBEDIENCE TO TORAH BRINGS DEATH

What if we don't obey the Torah? We deserve death.

KJV Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death ...

For the wages of sin = transgression of the law (I John 3:4) is
death.

MESSIAH DIED ON THE TREE TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS

Messiah died on the tree to pay the penalty for NOT obeying
the Torah.

Because Messiah died on the tree to pay for the penalty of
our sin, should we continue sinning (disobeying the Torah) ???

KJV Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound?

KJV Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
any longer therein?

WORKS OF THE LAW VS HEARING OF FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by
the hearing of faith?

ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

PHYSICAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = WORKS OF THE LAW

KJV Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.
For they are not all (SPIRITUAL) Israel, which are of (PHYSICAL) Israel:

KJV Romans 9:7 Neither, because they are the (PHYSICAL) seed of
Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac (SPIRITUAL PROMISE)
shall thy seed be called.

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

KJV Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with
faithful Abraham.

BEFORE FAITH CAME ????

KJV Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law

Christians usually interpret this verse to mean that the law
came first and faith came after the law was given. Is this really
what Paul was saying?

If faith didn't come until after the law was given then how
could Abraham be justified by faith if faith hadn't come yet?

KJV Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him
for righteousness.

KJV Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

So FAITH DIDN'T COME AFTER the law was given since Abraham was
justified by faith.

THE WORLD WAS CREATED BY FAITH

KJV Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were
framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear.

ABEL WALKED IN FAITH

KJV Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet
speaketh.

NOAH WALKED IN FAITH

KJV Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen
as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;
by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.

MOSES WALKED IN FAITH

KJV Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused
to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

BEFORE FAITH CAME ????

KJV Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law

Is Paul really trying to say that faith didn't come until
after the law was given when the world was created by faith, Abel
walked by faith, Abraham walked by faith, Noah walked by faith and
Abraham walked by faith?

CONTEXT .... CONTEXT ..... CONTEXT

WORKS OF THE LAW VS HEARING OF FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by
the hearing of faith?

ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

PHYSICAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = WORKS OF THE LAW

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = CHILDREN OF PROMISE

WORKS OF THE LAW (MAN'S interpretation of the law / Oral Law) =
CURSE OF THE LAW

KJV Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them.

THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH?

KJV Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that
doeth them shall live in them.

Did Paul really mean that the LAW is not of faith?

CONTEXT .... CONTEXT ..... CONTEXT

Works of the law = Not of faith

KJV Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the WORKS of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them.

KJV Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth
them shall live in them.

FAITH = BELIEVING THE WORD / TORAH OF YHVH

KJV Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.

THE PROMISE WAS MADE IN THE TORAH

KJV Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee
and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting
covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

KJV Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.
He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy
seed, which is Christ.

MOUNT SINAI CAN'T ANNUL THE PROMISE
IN THE TORAH MADE WITH ABRAHAM

KJV Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was
confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and
thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise
of none effect.

THE PROMSE = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH THROUGH THE MESSIAH

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

KJV Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

INHERITANCE = PROMISE = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH THROUGH MESSIAH

KJV Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more
of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

THE PROMISE IN THE TORAH WAS MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND
THE MESSIAH THAT THE SEED OF ABRAHAM WOULD BE JUSTIFIED
BY FAITH JUST AS ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

KJV Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

KJV Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more
of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

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 ...

SO WHAT WAS ADDED?

As mentioned earlier, the LAW wasn NOT ADDED BECAUSE of
TRANSGRESSIONS because the law has to exist in order to sin /
transgress (Sin = Transgression of the law) (I John 3:4)

What is the TRANSGRESSION that CAUSED something to be ADDED
that didn't exist in the time of Abraham?

WHAT IS THE TRANSGRESSION?

It was the sin of the golden calf.

WHAT GOT ADDED AS A RESULT OF THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF?

The Levitical priesthood.

KJV Exodus 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the
camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed
hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath
the mount.

KJV Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said,
Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of
Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

CONTEXT .... CONTEXT ..... CONTEXT

WHAT SERVES THE LAW?

KJV Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law?

Law = Levitical Priesthood

KJV Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added
because of transgressions ...

The Levitical priesthood was added because of the sin of the
golden calf.

THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS OUR TUTOR TO BRING US TO MESSIAH

KJV Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law = Levitical Priesthood which was added because of the
transgression of the golden calf

MESSIAH IS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHEZEDEK

KJV Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further
need was there that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed ...

KJV Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

KJV Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.

KJV Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.

THE NEW COVENANT IS THE TORAH WRITTEN UPON OUR HEARTS

KJV Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws
into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them
a God, and they shall be to me a people:

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO HELP US TO OBEY THE TORAH

KJV Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you
to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

SUMMARY

WORKS OF THE LAW VS HEARING OF FAITH

In the book of Galations chapter 3, Paul is comparing and
contrasting being justified by "works of the law" (understood from
the dead sea scrolls to mean MAN'S INTERPRETATION of the Torah (Oral
Law) versus being justified by faith.

ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.

SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM = JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

WORKS OF THE LAW = CURSE OF THE LAW = NOT OF FAITH

THE PROMISE IN THE TORAH WAS MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND
THE MESSIAH THAT THE SEED OF ABRAHAM WOULD BE JUSTIFIED
BY FAITH JUST AS ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.

MOUNT SINAI CAN'T ANNUL THE PROMISE
IN THE TORAH MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND MESSIAH
THAT THE SPIRITUAL SEED OF ABRAHAM ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
JUST LIKE HOW ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF
THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF

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 ...

KJV Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said,
Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of
Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS OUR TUTOR TO BRING US TO MESSIAH

KJV Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law = Levitical Priesthood which was added because of the
transgression of the golden calf

MESSIAH IS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHEZEDEK

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed ...

KJV Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

KJV Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.

KJV Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.

THE NEW COVENANT IS THE TORAH WRITTEN UPON OUR HEARTS

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO HELP US TO OBEY THE TORAH

KJV Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you
to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

SHOULD BELIEVERS IN THE MESSIAH FOLLOW TORAH?

Therefore was Paul teaching in Galatians 3 that once Messiah
came that we are no longer to keep the Word of YHVH / Torah? No.

Paul was teaching in Galatians 3 FROM THE TORAH that Abraham was
justified by faith just as all believers in the Messiah and that the
Levitical priesthood was added because of the sin of the golden calf
to be our tutor to bring us to the Messiah so that we no longer would
follow and trust in the "works of the law" (MAN'S INTERPRETATION of
the Torah (Oral Law).

May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l