This teaching is the sequel to our original teaching on Galatians. While it has taken some time, we are finally ready to wrap up one of Paul's most misunderstood letters.
In Part I, we laid the foundation by exploring the distinctions between the Old and New Covenants, particularly through the lens of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. We examined how Paul confronted the issue of legalism from the Circumcision Party, and clarified that salvation comes through faith in Christ rather than adherence to the Mosaic Law as a means of justification.
Now, in Part II, we continue this journey by diving deeper into the implications of this teaching. What does it mean for believers today? How should we understand the role of the Law in light of the New Covenant? As we build on the insights from Galatians, we will uncover how the teachings of Jesus and the apostles guide us in living a faith-centered life, fully embracing the freedom found in Christ.
Since Galatians is such an involved book, with almost every verse seemingly standing against the Law of Moses, we will follow the same format as in Part I, where we will look everything verse by verse, and comment afterward.
Note - Law is often misunderstood in the New Testament. The Law of the Pharisees (The Talmud / Oral Law), where Yeshua rebukes throughout the new testament, as well as the Law of Moses, are both translated as 'Law' in the English Translations. In this context, Paul is referring to the Law of Moses.
If you want to read more on why you should be careful when reading an English translated Bible, you can read here.
Resuming Where We Left Off
We ended our last teaching on Chapter 3 verse 17 of Galatians, showing how the curses of the Law, so let's read the rest of the verses:
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
Gal 3:19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.
Gal 3:20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
Gal 3:21 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.
Gal 3:22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Paul writes as to why the Law was given - It was given to show how to please God and not transgress His ways. The Law was never supposed to give life or make you Holy. This is only obtained through Yeshua as all are under sin. If you could get life through the Law, Yeshua was not needed. This gift comes through believing Yeshua, and this will be credited to you as righteousness. Paul reminds everyone that this promise does not contradict the Law, but instead, the Law shows you how to live.
Gal 3:23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
Gal 3:24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Gal 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
This sounds a bit harsh - 'we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed'. However, in the very next verse, a completely different type of word is used - 'So the law was our guardian'.
This could be a mistranslation, as often when language changes so dramatically, it could hint at one. Translating the words 'we were held in custody' shows:
φρουρέω phrouréō, froo-reh'-o; from a compound of G4253 and G3708; to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect:—keep (with a garrison).
This phrase is pointing more towards protection and guarding.
We can also translate the words 'locked up':
συγκλείω synkleíō, soong-kli'-o; from G4862 and G2808; to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to:—conclude, inclose.
This also shows a more protective stance.
We can then re-write these verses with our new context:
Gal 3:23 Before the coming of this faith, guarded by the law, embraced until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
Gal 3:24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
These verses take on a whole new meaning when you correctly translate them.
Paul continues to explain, that the Law showed you how to get to Christ, but Christ then justifies you through faith. We were entrusted by the Law (Guardian) until Christ came, where we learned how to walk in His ways and please Him.
Paul then eludes to how we are then grafted into his Kingdom (Israel), where there is no distinction between race or nationality.
Saying the Law is gone, contradicts what Paul said in Galatians 3:21, just above, where he says The Law is not against the promise.
Galatians Chapter 4
Before we continue - To recap, the main theme of Galatians is they are struggling with the Pharisees (Specifically the Circumscision party - a sect of Pharisees), who are saying to be justified/saved, you must be circumcised (As it says in the Law of Moses). Paul has written so far that this is not the case, as the Law is just to live properly (as it points out sin and shows how God wants you to live), but it cannot save you. This is done through Yeshua.
Let's continue!
Gal 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
Gal 4:2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
Gal 4:3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.
Gal 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Gal 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Gal 4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul again eludes to the Law being our Guardian. He also gives a small dig towards the Pharisees. 'we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world' - This is referring to the Law that the Pharisees made up - The Talmud / Oral Law, which often contradicted the Law of Moses. This is the case of the Jews. For Gentiles, this refers to any Pagan worship (E.g. Sun worship). He even says he was under the Pharisees before coming to Yeshua.
He then recounts how Yeshua was born under the Law, to fulfill it and redeem us. This had to happen, as Paul already stated the Law cannot give you righteosness, and is only there to point out sin. Our adoption into sonship only happens through faith in Yeshua (Jesus) and not through keeping the Law.
Gal 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Gal 4:9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Gal 4:10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Gal 4:11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Gal 4:12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
Gal 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
Gal 4:14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
Gal 4:15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Gal 4:16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Gal 4:17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
Gal 4:18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
Gal 4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Gal 4:20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Paul reminds the Galatians that they served Pagan gods before coming to Christ. He pleads with them to not do this, and reading this, you get the sense he is baffled at their choice to return to the Pagan ways after learning about Christ. This is referred to when he speaks about them observing 'special days, months and years'. Some Christians cite this verse as to not follow God's Ordained Festivals. However, reading this verse in context, you can see Paul is referring to Pagan practices that the Galatians were turning to.
Paul also highlights how hospitable and kind the Galatians were when he visited them and reminds them he is not writing to them out of anger, but more a plea towards them to return to Christ and His Law.
Paul is also talking about the Circumscision Party, who are trying to impart their own beliefs onto the Galatians. Their goal was to convert the Galatians so they could be zealous for their doctrine. Paul then mentioned zealousness is amazing, but only for 'good' (i.e. the Law / Christ).
Gal 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
Gal 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
Gal 4:23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
Gal 4:24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
Gal 4:25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
(+ The rest of verses 27 -31, which expand the idea. We will only highlight 21 - 26 to highlight the main point below)
Paul starts to use stories from the Old Testament to illustrate his point. Abraham had two sons—one by a servant, Hagar, and the other by a free woman, Sarah. Isaac, Sarah’s son, was born as a fulfillment of God’s promise, while Ishmael, Hagar’s son, was conceived through Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to fulfill God’s plan on their own due to their lack of faith.
Many Christians use these verses to show how the Law of Moses brings bondage, and the new covenant brings freedom from the Law. After showing the context, it is difficult to draw that conclusion because:
- Paul says the Law is not against God's promise.
- Paul's objective in this letter is to show that we are not justified by the Law, but that we should still follow it, as it points out sin.
- The verses used here are referring to the Jews, as indicated in verses 24 and 25, which we will explain below:
- Hagar and Ishmael symbolize the Mosaic Covenant, which was given at Mount Sinai and resulted in bondage. Paul equates Hagar with Mount Sinai in Arabia, where the Ishmaelites dwelled, and with earthly Jerusalem, where the Jews, bound to the Law, resided. Like Hagar and Ishmael, those seeking justification through the Law remain in bondage.
- Sarah and Isaac symbolize the Abrahamic Covenant, which represents freedom through faith. Isaac was born of promise, just as believers—whether Jew or Gentile—are justified by faith in God and the work of the Messiah. They belong to the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free and is the true mother of all believers.
Many misunderstand Paul’s argument, assuming he is saying that God’s Law itself is bondage. However, Paul clarifies that the Law is not opposed to God’s promises. The issue is not the Law itself but how it was misapplied—particularly by those teaching that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul’s message remains consistent: salvation is by faith, not by works of the Law. The Mosaic Covenant did not nullify the Abrahamic Covenant; rather, it served a different purpose. The true children of promise are those who trust in God’s grace, just as Isaac was born not of human effort, but by divine promise.
This teaching is quite involved, so feel free to take a break at some point!
Chapter 5
Gal 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Gal 5:2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
Gal 5:3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Gal 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Gal 5:5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
Paul continues to highlight how The Law cannot give you grace. Christ took the curse of the Law on himself (death) and bought us life. If we do not accept this gift, we are liable to pay the debt of the curse of the Law. This is where bondage comes in because this is impossible. Paul is telling them that whoever practices circumcision for the reason of justification has made Christ’s sacrifice worthless. If you get circumcised to receive salvation, that means you are trying to be justified by the Law, which means you must keep the whole law perfectly – as one mistake, and you are cursed with death.
Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Gal 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
Gal 5:8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
Gal 5:9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
Gal 5:10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.
Gal 5:11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
Gal 5:12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Paul highlights how one incorrect piece of doctrine (Yeast) can affect the entire belief system.
Gal 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Gal 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Gal 5:15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Gal 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul states to not use Christ's freedom as an excuse to continue sinning, which we know means not following the Law, as the Law is what identifies sin. He also refers to Yeshua's famous commandments 'Love thy neighbour and Love God'. We have a teaching on this, nestled in our teaching on the Sabbath. because these two commands summarize the 10 commandments. The first tablet - Shows how to LOVE GOD. The second tablet - Shows how to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR.
Paul pleads with them to stop quarreling and points them back to the Holy Spirit, who is supposed to lead us in love and truth. Paul says ' if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.' - This is saying if you are led by the Spirit, you do not need to be guarded by the Law, as the Holy Spirit will cause you to be obedient anyway.
Gal 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
Gal 5:20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
Gal 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The above verses speak on the same points as the previous set - Live by the Holy Spirit and follow God's commands. He makes a damning statement in verse 21:
Gal 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul is saying that these acts of sin will not let you have eternal life. The people who are truly in Christ (You have the Holy Spirit & Follow the Law of Moses), will be able to overcome these fleshly desires. This is the true litmus test to see if you are in Christ. Saying that circumcision is they way to Heaven will cause unnecessary conflict.
Chapter 6
Gal 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
Gal 6:4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
Gal 6:5 for each one should carry their own load.
Gal 6:6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Gal 6:8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Gal 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Paul reminds everyone of how to deal with a sinner in the congregation (Gently - implying to follow the normal process from the Law - one on one discussion, witnesses and finally the church). The rest of the verses hammer home the theme of reaping what you sow. If you sow in the flesh, you will reap death, but if you sow in the Spirit, you reap the eternal rewards.
Gal 6:11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
Gal 6:12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Gal 6:13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.
Gal 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Gal 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
Gal 6:16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
Gal 6:17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Gal 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Paul highlights the contradictory nature of the Talmud. The people who are preaching circumcision for salvation do not keep the Law of Moses nor have Christ in them, and therefore cannot be given salvation. Paul concludes they are promoting their ideallogy to avoid persecution from the Jewish people, and also to promote themselves through how many people they brought to the Talmud / Oral Law.
Paul then signs off the letter, asking the Galatians to not bother him regarding this matter again.
Conclusion
As we conclude this multi-part journey through Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it’s important that we pause and take in the full depth and weight of what Paul has laid out—not just to the Galatian believers of his day, but to all of us in the modern world.
In Part I, we laid a strong foundation by exploring who the Galatians were and why Paul wrote this letter. We discovered that the Galatians were Gentile converts who had embraced the gospel of Yeshua but were being led astray by a group known as the Circumcision Party. These were Pharisaic believers who insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and follow added traditions (like those found in the Oral Law or Talmud) in order to be truly saved.
Paul’s concern, then, was not with God’s Law itself, but with the Oral Law, which contradicted the Law of Moses. The Galatians were being pressured to adopt human traditions and equate them with righteousness—something strictly forbidden by God (Deut. 12:32). Paul draws a clear line between the written Torah and the traditions of men, rebuking those who tried to add to God's commandments.
As we traced through Chapters 1 and 2, we saw Paul remind them that salvation has always come through faith, not through circumcision or any other outward work. He even calls out Peter for siding with the Circumcision Party by separating from uncircumcised Gentiles, reinforcing that justification is not earned through the “works of the law,” but through belief in Yeshua.
When Paul speaks of dying to “the law,” the context shows he is referring to Talmudic legalism, not the righteous instructions of God. He emphasizes that while obedience is important, it can never be the source of salvation. Instead, God’s grace through Messiah is what redeems us—even from the curses that come when we fall short of His standard.
In Part II, we explored the implications of this more deeply, taking a careful, verse-by-verse walk through Galatians chapters 3 through 5. And what we’ve seen is that Paul’s message is not one of “Law versus Grace” in the way it is often framed. Rather, it’s a plea to understand the true purpose of the Law—as a guide, not a savior. The Law shows us how to live, but it is faith in Christ that gives us the power to live. The Law reveals sin; the Spirit empowers us to overcome it.
Paul uses vivid metaphors to show us that before Christ, we were guarded, watched, and even protected by the Law. Not imprisoned, but surrounded as by a fence that pointed us to the need for redemption. This “guardian” was essential for a time—but it was never meant to be the end of the story. It was always meant to lead us to to the Messiah who would fulfill what the Law pointed toward.
Once faith in Christ came, we were no longer in need of that guardian in the same way. Through the Spirit, we now live from the inside out. This is not lawlessness—this is the fullness of the Law. This is walking by the Spirit, fulfilling the Law.
Paul’s pleads with the Galatians not to return to “slavery”—whether that be to Pharisaical legalism, or to the pagan rituals they once practiced. He sees that the joy and freedom of the Galatians is being stolen by those who would use the Law as a means of control.
Paul reminds them (and us) that if we seek justification through the Law, we are obligated to keep the entire Law perfectly—which is something no one can do. That path leads only to condemnation. But if we walk by the Spirit—if we truly believe that we are children of God —then we are free from the curse of the Law, not from its wisdom.
Too often, the message of Galatians is reduced to “the Law is bad, grace is good.” but this misrepresents Paul’s heart and message. Paul is not saying the Law is irrelevant—he is saying that the Law is not the means to justification. He’s telling us not to put our hope in rituals or works, but in the completed work of Yeshua.
The Law was always meant to lead us to the Messiah. And now that He has come, let us follow Him out of Love, so that we may keep God's Law through the Holy Spirit.
You are heirs of the promise. Be blessed!
