As the Jews were not even conscious of their own sins, and in consequence did not even
desire remission; the Law was given to probe their wounds, that they might long for a
physician. And the word “shut up” means “convinced” and conviction held them in fear.
You see then it is not only not against, but was given for the promises. Had it arrogated to
itself the work and the authority, the objection would stand; but if its drift is something else,
and it acted for that, how is it against the promises of God? Had the Law not been given, all
would have been wrecked upon wickedness, and there would have been no Jews to listen to
Christ; but now being given, it has effected two things; it has schooled its followers in a
certain degree of virtue, and has pressed on them the knowledge of their own sins. And this
especially made them more zealous to seek the Son, for those who disbelieved, disbelieved
from having no sense of their own sins, as Paul shows; “For being ignorant of God’s right-
eousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject themselves
to the righteousness of God.” (Rom. x. 3.)
Ver. 23. “But before faith came, we were kept inward under the Law, shut up unto the
faith which should afterwards be revealed.”
Here he clearly puts forward what I have stated: for the expressions “we were kept” and
“shut up,” signify nothing else than the security given by the commandments of the Law;
which like a fortress fenced them round with fear and a life conformable to itself, and so
preserved them unto Faith.
Ver. 24. “So that the Law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.”
Now the Tutor is not opposed to the Preceptor, but cooperates with him, ridding the
youth from all vice, and having all leisure to fit him for receiving instructions from his
Preceptor. But when the youth’s habits are formed, then the Tutor leaves him, as Paul says.
Ver. 25, 26. “But now that faith is come which leads to perfect manhood we are no
longer under a tutor96. For ye are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
The Law then, as it was our tutor, and we were kept shut up under it, is not the adversary
but the fellow-worker of grace; but if when grace is come, it continues to hold us down, it
becomes an adversary; for if it confines those who ought to go forward to grace, then it is
faith.”—Lightfoot. Meyer takes a different view of v. 21: “For if it had been opposed to the promises, the Law
must have been in a position to procure life and if this were so, then would righteousness actually be from the
Law, which according to the Scripture cannot be so (ver. 22.)”—G.A.]
96 [“The pædagogus or tutor, frequently a superior slave, was entrusted with the moral supervision of the
child. Thus his office was quite distinct from that of the διδάσκαλος; so the word “Schoolmaster” conveys a
wrong idea. As well in his inferior rank as in his recognized duty of enforcing discipline, this person was a fit
emblem of the Mosaic law. There is a very complete illustration of the use which Paul makes of the metaphor
in Plato (Lysis, p, 208 C).”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]
59
Galatians 3:1