Gal 2:16, 3:12-13, 24 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 16. Knowing that a man is not justified ] See the notes on . And see on , in which places the subject of this verse is largely discussed. Neither the works of the Jewish law, nor of any other law, could justify any man; and if justification or pardon could not have been attained in some other way, the world must have perished. Justification by faith, in the boundless mercy of God, is as reasonable as it is Scriptural and necessary.

‏ Galatians 2:16

Verse 16. Knowing that a man is not justified] See the notes on Ro 1:17; 3:24, 27; 8:3. And see on Ac 13:38, 39, in which places the subject of this verse is largely discussed. Neither the works of the Jewish law, nor of any other law, could justify any man; and if justification or pardon could not have been attained in some other way, the world must have perished. Justification by faith, in the boundless mercy of God, is as reasonable as it is Scriptural and necessary.

‏ Galatians 3:12-13

Verse 12. And the law is not of faith] It promises no forgiveness to believing, but requires obedience. It is not, What do you believe? but, What have you done? The man that doeth them perfectly, at all times, and in all places, he shall live in them; but if in any case he fails, he forfeits his life. See Clarke on Ro 1:17, &c.

Verse 13. Christ hath redeemed us] εξηγορασεν. Hath bought us with a price; viz. his blood, or life.

Being made a curse for us] Being made an atonement for our sins; for whatever was offered as an atonement for sin was considered as bearing the punishment due to sin, and the person who suffered for transgression was considered as bearing the curse in his body; therefore, in the same day in which a criminal was executed it was ordered that his body should be buried, that the land might not be polluted, because he that was hanged, which was the case with every heinous culprit, was considered accursed of God, De 21:22, 23; hence the necessity of removing the accursed THING out of sight.

‏ Galatians 3:24

Verse 24. The law was our schoolmaster] ονομοςπαιδαγωγος ημωνγεγονενειςχριστον. The law was our pedagogue unto Christ. The παιδαγωγος, pedagogue, is not the schoolmaster, but the servant who had the care of the children to lead them to and bring them back from school, and had the care of them out of school hours. Thus the law did not teach us the living, saving knowledge; but, by its rites and ceremonies, and especially by its sacrifices, it directed us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. This is a beautiful metaphor, and highly illustrative of the apostle's doctrine. See Clarke on Ro 10:4, where this figure is farther explained.