Galatians 3:23-29

 Galatians 3:23-29

The Judaizers were telling the Galatians. “Come back to Judaism; we have history, traditions, rituals, and ceremonies. To sum it up, we have Law.” Paul gives the Law its due but demonstrates that all the Law is and offer can never match what we have in Christ. The law is first indirectly described as a jailer. In verse 24 Paul says under the Law a person is under “guard” or literally “locked up together.” There is a picture here of custody at best for your own good, but it could be the darker reality of constant guilt. Imagine a raging alcoholic who is under lock and key so that they do not go out and drink themselves to death. Prison may help keep a person from addictive behaviors, but it can never cure the underlying problem. 

The second term Paul uses is tutor or schoolmaster. Neither of these English terms conveys the Greek meaning. The Greek word is “paidagogos,” from which we get the English pedagogy. This was a slave who was the constant companion of a boy from a wealthy family. Beginning at about age six until adulthood, the boy never left the house without the slave. The slave accompanied the boy to school and back, went with him to any social engagement, and was his companion on any trip or visit to the market. The slave could discipline, correct, and direct the boy. But ultimately this slave answered to the head of the house. The ultimate goal was for the boy to obey the father, but not being trusted to do so on his own, the slave would impose obedience. Before Christ came, this is what the Law did. While the law was good, it was inferior to what we have in Christ. When a person is baptized into Christ, they transition from the child that is and does good because their handler requires it into the mature Spirit-guided person who is both free and good.

Paul makes a powerful distinction by referring to an obvious distinction. The contrast is the difference between being a child under the supervision of a slave and being a mature, free adult. The old contrast of race, gender, or slavery is no longer important. All people can be free, holy-living, spiritually mature individuals in Christ by the power of the Spirit. The promised inheritance of Abraham becomes ours, along with Abraham. When given the choice, I will choose freedom over supervision every time.

“Lord, thank You for the freedom I have been given.  Freedom to live holy.  AMEN”