In the Book of Galatians Paul wrote as follows:
Galatians 3:10-13 For everyone who depends on legalistic observance of Torah commands lives under a curse, since it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the Scroll of the Torah.” Now it is evident that no one comes to be declared righteous by God through legalism, since “The person who is righteous will attain life by trusting and being faithful.” Furthermore, legalism is not based on trusting and being faithful, but on [a misuse of] the text that says, “Anyone who does these things will attain life through them.” The Messiah redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the Torah by becoming cursed on our behalf; for the Tanakh says, “Everyone who hangs from a stake comes under a curse.” (CJB)
Reading the above verses, some tend to jump to the conclusion that whoever obeys “God’s Law” is “under a curse” and that the “Law is a curse”. Is this an accurate conclusion? Of course not! It was never implied in the text at all. Obeying the law because you love God will turn out to be a blessing for you, not a curse. Apostle Paul is quoting the Torah here:
Deuteronomy 27:26 ‘A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.’ All the people are to say, ‘Amen!’
The Torah itself, anticipating that people will fall short of complete obedience and thereby go out of fellowship with God, states what those who disobey Torah commands must do in order to restore such fellowship — they must repent, and sometimes they must bring a prescribed sacrifice. And at times there are no sacrifices available to bring to God to restore your relationship with God. How? Because there are no sacrifices for intentional sins. King David provides a good example, of that. King David committed adultery and murder. Both were highhanded and intentional sins. There is no provision for forgiveness according to the Torah. Nevertheless, God forgave him after he repented.
So what is Paul addressing in the Galatians 3? Paul is addressing the legalistic observance of the Torah. You cannot fool God by your legalism, for God sees your heart. God wants you to be trusting and being faithful to Him. That comes from loving Him with all your mind and strength.
Legalism is the exact opposite of trust. Galatians 3:11 assumes this, but Galatians 3:12 proves it. For example, the thought that anyone who mechanically follows the rules for Shabbat, or the commandments, will attain life through them, will be saved, will enter the Kingdom of God, will obtain eternal life and no need to trust God, just obey the rules! This is legalism. You may be able to do things outwardly, but your heart is far away from God. Your intentions are misplaced. The “legalistic obedience to Torah commands” (that is, “works of law”) is actually disobedience to the Torah.
Isaiah 1:14 Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to me — I’m tired of putting up with them!
When God made the Covenant at Sinai and confirmed it at Horeb, He set forth Blessings and Curses before His people. If the people obeyed, they would be blessed. If the people disobeyed, they would be cursed. We see that in the Book of Deuteronomy as shown below:
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (CJB)
Deuteronomy 29:21 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse — the blessing, if you listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your God that I am giving you today; and the curse, if you don’t listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your God, but turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known. (CJB)
Deuteronomy 9:11 Yes, after forty days and nights Adonai gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant. (CJB)
Joshua 8:34 After this, he read all the words of the Torah, the blessing and the curse, according to everything written in the book of the Torah. (CJB)
Life, good and blessings were for the obedient. Death, evil and curses were for the disobedient. Remember, God already saved them from Egypt and declared them holy even before He gave them the Law. It was not the obedience to the Law that saved them from Egypt. The same applies to us today who are believers in Yeshua. We are already saved by putting our trust in Yeshua. The Law of God could save no one. Neither did it have a mind of its own. It was merely a set of instructions to live by. It is a schoolmaster to understand God and walk in holiness with Him so that we can have fellowship with God. Whoever lived by them had life, good and blessings, while whoever disobeyed had death, evil and curses on their lives. This is still true today.
Let us have a short review of the points made by Paul in the Book of Galatians Chapter 3.
- The proper obedience to the Law or the Torah brings blessings (Galatians 3:10/Deuteronomy 27:26).
Galatians 3:10 For everyone who depends on legalistic observance of Torah commands lives under a curse, since it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the Scroll of the Torah.” (CJB)
Deuteronomy 27:26 “‘A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.’ All the people are to say, ‘Amen!’ (CJB)
- But, the righteous are not justified before God, through Law, but by Faith (Galatians 3:11/ Habakkuk 2:4)
Galatians 3:11 Now it is evident that no one comes to be declared righteous by God through legalism, since “The person who is righteous will attain life by trusting and being faithful.” (CJB)
Habakkuk 2:4 “Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright; but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness. (CJB)
- The Law is different from Faith, but those who “obey or do” the Law will have life. They walk pleasing to the Lord and being fruitful (Galatians 3:12/Leviticus 18:5). So, conversely, if someone does not obey or do the Law, they will have death.
Galatians 3:12 Furthermore, legalism is not based on trusting and being faithful, but on [a misuse of] the text that says, “Anyone who does these things will attain life through them.” (CJB)
Leviticus 18:5 You are to observe my laws and rulings; if a person does them, he will have life through them; I am Adonai. (CJB)
- But Through Yeshua’s sacrifice, we are free from the curse of the Law, which is eternal separation from God (Galatians 3:13).
Galatians 3:13 The Messiah redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the Torah by becoming cursed on our behalf; for the Tanakh says, “Everyone who hangs from a stake comes under a curse.” (CJB)
Does this mean that we can be lawless? Absolutely Not! If we walk in the light or according to the Torah, the blessings come out it is your inheritance. On the other hand, if you are a hypocrite, and legalistic about Torah observance, the very things that are intended for a blessing will be a terror upon your life.
Paul has made his case that no one is “justified or made righteous” before God through the Law, but by having Faith in God alone. Your faith comes first and then comes obedience to the Laws of God.
“Sin” or “Disobedience” against God is the “breaking of God’s Law” as stated by Apostle John.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who keeps sinning is violating the Torah — indeed, sin is violation of Torah. (CJB)
How does Yeshua fit into this equation?
Galatians 3:13 The Messiah redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the Torah by becoming cursed on our behalf;
Messiah did two things in terms of the Torah. He has taken away the “curse of the law”, meaning the certainty of the eternal separation of God because we violated the Laws of God. This applies to anyone who has not put their trust in Messiah.
Unbelievers are facing two issues, the “curse of the law” and the “curses of the law”. “Curses of the Law” are the consequences of our sins while living on the earth.
On the other hand, a believer in Yeshua will not be subjected to the “curse of the law”, the eternal separation from God. However, they are subjected to the “curses of the Law”, bearing the consequences of our sins while living on the earth.
Because of Messiah, even when we break The Law, we can still receive mercy through repentance, and not be under the “Curse of the Law” which is Death and eternal separation from God.
The “Curse of the Law” was Death, which was the wage needed to be paid for Sin. Through Messiah’s intervention and death, He took this curse on Himself, giving us freedom from Death and passage to eternal Life.
Our Messiah did not take away the Law through His death. He took away the “Curse of the Law” through His death. We receive salvation through Faith, and not by keeping God’s Law. This was the same with the people of Israel, as they were saved from Egypt and Slavery through God’s Grace and Mercy, and not because of any righteousness they had. After they were saved, God wanted obedience from them. This is the same pattern seen throughout the Scriptures.
We are also required to be obedient towards our Heavenly Father after He saves us through His grace. And whenever we fall short, He still has mercy towards the repentant, because of the redemption work of Messiah Yeshua.
We cannot call the Law of God, a curse, as it is only a guide on how we should live. The choice is up to us. We can choose to live in the blessings or to die in the curses. We cannot blame God’s Law for the choices we make. Let us walk in the “Blessings of the Law” by being obedient to our Creator and choosing life Eternal, for He has paid the ultimate price for our lives so that we are never under the “Curse of Law”, which is death eternal. Remember your blessings, prosperity and peace are tied to your obedience to the Laws of God.
