Meditations in Galatians #13, Saturday, June 13, 2009 Galatians 3:13
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"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE."--
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Father, five times I have started over. Every aspect of this verse is too deep to explain in a few minutes. Please help me to find some other resources that my friends can use to really study what Paul means when he says that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law. But for now, please show me what is most important from Paul's perspective. He did not try to explain the meaning of crucifixion being a sign of a "curse", beyond the quote from Moses. It seems that everyone at that time, Jew and Gentile, believed that anyone whose dead body was impaled or crucifed was "cursed." What Paul wants the Galatians to know is that everyone is under the curse of the Law, because no one can become righteous through keeping the Law. Therefore everyone is "cursed" and deserves crucifixion in this life and Hell without possibility of parole. But Jesus suffered for us all that the curse required be done to us, except that Hell could not defeat Him, and He conquered it. Since He did this for us, we are "redeemed" and can no longer be punished according to the Law. We are no long under a "curse."
But Paul is extremely concerned for the Galatians who are experimenting with circumcision and diet and sabbaths. This is not because those things are bad in themselves, but because Jesus cannot suffer a second time for them if they put themselves back under the curse of the Law after He has saved them. Isn't that what this whole letter is about?
Paul is warning them that they are close to actually rejecting the salvation Jesus has given them. By their attempts to acquire some additional righteousness through Mosaic observance, some have already gone too far, and the redemption that Jesus provided cannot be applied to them.
Lord, I don't want it to be this way for me. I want to be holy and righteous, but I know that this must come through obedience toYour Son, and not through any kind of legalism on my part. I know that Jesus has removed from me the "curse" of the Law, but I know that I can still corrupt myself by trying to be righteous, and treat Jesus' death with disrespect in the process. Please open my eyes to see if there is in me anything that is working against Your gift of redemption, and let Your Holy Spirit cleanse me of it all.
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At Deadright.net, under Resources, on the Links page, is a link to a web page that put a lot of effort into the first century understanding of the phrase "cursed is he who hangs on a tree." (click on this paragraph to go there.)