Daily Scripture

Galatians 3:24–25

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Laws and commandments, whether they be the strict law of Moses Paul was talking about here or our commandments today, have one purpose—to bring us to Jesus Christ. They teach us obedience so we can be obedient like the Savior. They teach us Christlike characteristics to be like Christ. They give us safety so we can qualify to have the Spirit of Christ. Their entire purpose is to bring us to Christ. 

When we focus on the commandments as a strict set of rules that guide or sometimes restrict us, we are missing the point. And it can get easy to obsess over them or rebel against them. 

But they are intended to teach us about and lead us to Christ so we might have faith in Christ. 

Then, Paul teaches, once our faith in Christ is strong, the commandments no longer become a burden or a schoolmaster. Instead, our faith in Christ give us the proper perspective—the perspective that Christ saves. 

Faithful Jews kept the law of Moses (see Jacob 4:5) because it was God’s commandment. But they recognized that the law didn’t save. The law pointed to Christ who saves. 

Today, we are asked to keep commandments, not for the commandments themselves, but for the faith they develop in Jesus Christ. The expectation is no less important. However, those who act in faith understand and joyfully keep all the commandments because they recognize the faith-building purpose—to come to Christ.

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