THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

Then why was the law given 430 years later. In verse 19, Paul said, "It was added because of transgressions."

We need to be careful about finding fault with the law. Sometimes we are guilty of saying things like, "The old law was inferior." Paul concluded that the old law was not inferior.

On what basis would we decide that the law was inferior? Some folks say the law was inferior because it was too strict. Oh, really? The law said, "You shall not commit adultery." Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Which one of those two commands places the stronger obligation on a person? The one, which says "don't commit adultery"? Or the one that says "don't even do it in your mind." The law said, "You shall not murder." 1 John 3:15 says, "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." Which of those two commands places the most serious obligation upon us? The standards are not easier under Christ.

The law was good and even today, it serves a useful purpose. He said that the law was added because of our transgression. One morning this week, I drove down Crabapple Street on my way to work. The speed limit is 35 miles an hour, but as you near Forest Hills Elementary School, you encounter a flashing light and the speed limit slows to 15 miles an hour. If you know what's good for you, you'll hit your brake when that light is flashing. When I'm driving that way early in the morning, I take a careful look at my speedometer. It tells me when I'm over the speed limit, but it does not correct my speed. The law is like that. The thermometer that a nurse uses in the hospital records your temperature, but it does not cure your disease.

Spiritually speaking law, whether it be the law of Moses or any other law, has the capacity to expose our sins. Paul said in Romans 7:7 "What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'Do not covet.'"

Law reminds us that God has standards. Law shows us how far away we are from God's standards. Law points out our failures and shortcomings. Law will convict me when my actions, my motives and my thinking are at odds with everything that's right and true. It shows how badly I need a Savior.

But the law has some shortcomings. He mentions two.

1. It was temporary. It was added because of transgressions until the seed to whom the promise referred had come.
2. It was put into effect by angels through a mediator. That's his point in the last part of verse 19 and in verse 20. This thought has been very difficult for Bible students to explain. It's one of those things written by our brother Paul that is hard to understand. It has been estimated that there are at least 430 different interpretations of verses 19-20. I'm not going to touch it with a ten-foot pole.

In verse 21, Paul conceded the value of the law. "Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law."

Don't ever criticize the law on its merits. It was a good law. This one verse makes it absolutely clear that law does not have the power to give life. If it did, Paul claimed the law of Moses would have done that. We're not going to find justification in a better law. You can't improve on the law of Moses. The problem with the law of Moses was its lack of power. It could not bring life to dead men. Or to use a different metaphor, it could not release people from prison. That's the metaphor that Paul chose in verse 22.

But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Notice he says that the whole world was the prisoner of sin. The law couldn't open those locked doors, but the promise could. Precept was prison. Promise has the power to pardon.

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