The Law’s Purpose (Galatians 3:19-25)

The primary responsibility of a babysitter is to keep the children alive until their parents arrive. One family of kids was frustrated with their new babysitter. They complained to one another that she was really strict. The babysitter told them that their parents said, “No snacks, no TV, no video games, and finish their chores.” No amount of whining would budge the babysitter. Finally, Dad and Mom got home and the babysitter left. With their chores done they enjoyed some pizza and watched a movie as a family. Was the babysitter strict or was the babysitter obeying her instructions? 

What was the purpose of the law if it does not make one righteous? Paul speaks of the law of Moses serving like a babysitter who has charge over the kids until the parents arrive. The world was under the law’s custody until the promised Messiah would be revealed. Now that Christ has come, we follow Him by faith and are freed from the custody of the law. In our passage this morning (Galatians 3:19-25), Paul shows us the purpose of the law is to bring the faithful to Christ by revealing sin and declaring everyone a sinner.

The Law Reveals Sin (3:19-21)

The law was given so that God’s people would know how to live in a manner that pleases Him. Paul wrote, “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions…” The law reveals sin to us and leaves us without excuse. Paul elaborates on this in Romans 7:7, “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’” The reason we know what is good and what is bad is because God has declared it to us. Paul later says, “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Rom 7:12).

The law reveals how to conduct oneself until the One to whom the promise was made arrives. Paul wrote, “…till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.” The law was given, through angels and a mediator (Moses) to reveal and restrain sin until Christ arrived. The law was not the promise God gave to Abraham, it is not “of faith” (Gal 3:12); but it is also not antagonistic to the promise either. Paul wrote, “Is the law against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” Therefore, the law is good because it reveals to us God’s definition of sin.

The Law Convicts the Sinner (3:22a)

The Law reveals sin to everyone and convicts everyone of being a sinner. Paul wrote, “But the Scripture [containing the law] has confined all under sin…” The Bible is clear on this. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. People are not basically good, we are born with a sinful nature. Paul said in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Everyone, no exceptions, is a sinner. Therefore, we conclude that something has happened to our very nature. It is not a coincidence that everyone sins.

How has this happened to everyone? Paul later said in Romans 5:12, “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” All have sinned because we are descendants of Adam. Adam’s sin (Gen 3) passed to his descendants a sinful nature. This is referred to as Original Sin. A consequence of Adam’s sin is that humans become dead in sin and habitually sin. The law reveals this to us.

The Law Brings the Faithful to Christ (3:22b-25)

The law reveals sin and convicts the sinner “that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” The law was purposeful. Paul wrote, “Before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.” The law watched over us until the right time for Christ’s arrival. Paul will later tell the Galatians that “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). The Law reveals we are all sinners so that we would turn to Christ. 

Paul uses the illustration of a tutor to show the work of the law. He wrote, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” The tutor in this context would most likely be a male household slave who watches over a son in the house to see that he stays out of trouble and learns those things necessary to thrive in life and assume his role in the family. This tutor would look after the moral character of the son. It would be absurd for the son to want to remain with the tutor once he has grown up. The time the son spends with the tutor is important, but it is limited. The law has an important, limited role in preparing people to turn to Christ by faith to receive justification.

Have You Come to Christ?

Why do parents get a babysitter for their children when they leave? It is because the kids are not mature enough to take care of themselves. They need a responsible adult to watch after them, protect them, and care for them. This is the function of the law. The law was given 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham and served faithfully until the coming of Christ. The law is good, but is not God’s promise to Abraham. The law reveals sin, convicts the sinner, and brings the faithful to Jesus Christ for salvation. The promise to Abraham is Christ.

Consider, Galatians 3:25 says we’re no longer under the Law’s supervision now that faith has come. What does it look like for you to live in the freedom of faith rather than under strict rules or legalism? Are there areas where you’re still clinging to a ‘guardian’ (rules, traditions, or self-imposed standards) instead of trusting Christ’s sufficiency? How does this passage challenge or reinforce your perspective on rules in spiritual life today? How does this passage challenge or encourage you in your relationship with God? What’s one way you can embrace the promise of righteousness through faith this week? Remember Jesus’ words, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are haven laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt 1:28-30).