Ordinances Against Us?
The Apostolic Letter to Gentiles
The Law of Yahweh & of Moses
The Veil Over Their Minds
Yoke Our Fathers/Unable to Bear
Yahshua: The End of the Law
Yahshua was not a Lawgiver
How to Count to Pentecost
Yahweh's Passover
Yahshua is Coming
Love the Heavenly Father
Salvation & the Sacred Names
The Creator/What is His Name?
The Father's Name
The Importance of the Name
Read & Restore Sacred Names
What is the Messiah's Name?
John 5:18
The Sabbath
Clothing for Men and Women
Feet Washing
Is This Your Ancestor?
Speaking in Tongues
The Plan of Salvation
The Soul of Man
When does the Day Begin?
Wine in the Bible
What Body are the Dead Raised?
Women
Yahweh's Dietary Laws
Galatians 3:19
by Voy Wilks
04/14/06
"Why then the law? It was added because of transgression, TILL the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; ..." (Gal. 3:19, RSV). Please review our booklet, "Galatians Chapter Three."
These words seem to indicate the law was powerfully in place, but only until the Messiah came, at which time it was to be abolished; taken out of the way. Is this truly the case? Was the law really abolished when the Messiah came, or when he died on the tree, perhaps? Some have suggested that Gal. 3:19 indicates all the law of Yahweh has been abolished, while others have suggested that only the sacrificial law was abolished.
Let us review pertinent 'scriptures and learn if some portion (or perhaps all) of Yahweh's law has been abolished. If only some of it was abolished, let us learn what portion that was.
The Testimony of Yahshua the Messiah
Since, according to some, the "Seed" (Yahshua the Messiah) would abolish the sacrificial law when he came, we can be sure that on one knew this better than he. Here is the picture: The Law was added UNTIL the Seed came. Now, let us ask ourselves: When the Seed came, what happened? Did he abolish the Law? Let Yahshua answer:
"But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the law to become VOID" (Lk. 16:17, RSV).
Have heaven and earth passed away? No. Then neither has the law of Yahweh {the law of Moses} (Lk. 2:22-24, 39). The people of his day accused Yahshua of abolishing the law. His response was:
"THINK NOT that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say unto you, til heaven and earth shall pass away, not an iota, not a dot, shall pass from the law until all is accomplished" (Mt. 5:17, RSV).
Some believe "to fulfill' means to do away with, to abolish. If true, Yahshua's statement could read as follows:
Think notthat I have come to abolish the law ...; I have not come to abolish but to abolish."
Everyone can see this does not make sense. When we read other Scriptures we learn that "fulfill" (pleroo) means to do, to keep, to accomplish (Rom. 13:8; Col. 4:17).
The Seed did NOT come to abolish the smallest part of the law, not even a dot associated with the law, but to fulfill the law, to live it (Mt. 5:17 - 19). we too must fulfill the law (Rom. 8:4).
All of the Ten Commandments are major laws (great laws). But notice: Yahshua included all the minor laws - even the smallest one (Mt. 5:18, 19). This would include every law which Yahweh gave, great and small, including the sacrificial law (Mt. 8:1-4). Therefore, Yahshua did not come to abolish the Sacrificial Law. But for the moment, let us assume some laws were indeed abolished. Since Yahweh's law is made up of many statutes and ordinances, both great and small, let us review some of these laws and discover by the process of elimination which, if any, have been abolished.
The Nazarite Vow (Num. 6)
As late as 54 C.E. the Apostle Paul took the Nazarite Vow (Acts 18:18), therefore the law of the Nazarite Vow had not been canceled 23 years after the impalement of Yahshua the Messiah. This indicates Gal. 3:19 cannot refer to the abolition of the law concerning the Nazarite Vow.
The Food Laws (Lev. 11; Deut. 14)
Major Laws
In the year of C.E. 38, a heavenly voice urged the Apostle Peter to eat many unclean animals,. Peter's reply was, "Not so, Yahshua; for I have never eaten anything common of unclean" (Acts 10:14 KJV). This indicates Peter still recognized the validity of Yahweh's food laws (seven years after Yahshua ascended to heaven).
If the food laws had been abolished, Peter would have been very conscience of it. Verse 28 explains the significance of Peter's vision. This indicates Gal. 3:19 is not a reference to abolishing the food laws at Yahshua's coming, or at his death, as some believe.
The Festivals (Lev. 23)
Major Laws
The Festivals are perpetual, forever, as long as Israel has generations (Lev. 16:29-34; 23:14, 21, 31, 41). Is Israel still having generations today, in 1995? Indeed they are. Therefore the festivals still stand. The Saints who in early times believed Yahshua to be the Messiah continued to keep the festivals of Yahweh, as is indicated by the following Scriptures. Acts 2:1; 20:6, 20; 1 Cor. 16:5-9; Col 2:16. This indicates Gal. 3:19 does not refer to a cancellation of the festivals.
The Sabbath (Ex. 31:12-17)
A Major Law
The Sabbath is a sign between Yahweh and his people. It is the "duty of the people of Yahweh to keep the Sabbath" (Heb. 4:9, 10, Lamsa Version). Therefore, Gal 3:19 does not refer to the Sabbath as having been abolished.
The Ten Commandents (Ex. 20)
The Greatest of All Laws
The Decalogue is forever (Ps. 119:144, 152, 160; Isa. 40:6-9; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Mt. 4:4). In C.E. 60 (29 years after the impalement of Yahshua), the same Apostle Paul who wrote Gal. 3:19 also wrote that the Law of Yahweh is still binding on the man as long as he liveth (Rom. 7:1; 3:31). The Law is holy, just, good and spiritual (Rom. 7:12, 14, 16, 20). Therefore, Gal 3:19 cannot refer to the Decalogue as having been abolished.
The Testimony of John the Apostle
In 96 C.E. the Apostle John wrote: Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the COMMANDMENT OF YAHWEH and the faith of Yahshua (Rev. 14:12).
This indicates the commandments had not been abolished 35 years after the death of Yahshua, therefore Gal. 3:19 cannot indicate the Commandments of Yahweh as having been canceled.
The Levitical Priesthood
Major Laws
The holy offerings went to Aaron and his sons forever, perpetually (Nu. 18:8, 11, 19). This is Yahweh's law. This means the Levitical priesthood has not ended. The duties of the Levitical Priests have only been suspended. The prophets verify this (Jer. 33:17-22; Isa. 56:7; Ezek. 44-46). Just as long as the "son of David" (Yahshua the Messiah) rules upon the throne of David (forever, Isa. 9:7; Lk. 1:32, 33), just that long the Levitical priests will offer sacrifices to Yahweh, when that time comes (Jer. 33:17-22).
Animal Sacrifices
Major Laws
That animal sacrifices were still being offered many years AFTER THE MESSIAH DIED on the tree is indicated in the life and writings of the Apostle Paul - the same Apostle Paul who wrote Gal. 3:19. Let us review a few of these Scriptures.
Acts 21:18-27 The Apostle Paul willingly joined four other men (believers in Yahshua) and offered animal sacrifices. This was in the year of C.E. 60; 29 years after Yahshua ascended into heaven. Thousands of other followers of Yahshua did the same (Acts 21:20).
Acts 24:17 Paul's testimony is, "After many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings" [animal sacrifices], (recorded in Acts 21:18-27).
1 Cor. 9:13; 10:18 In 59 C.E. the Levitical priests were still offering sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul raised no objections.
Heb. 8:3, 4; 9:6, 8-10; 10:11 In the year of C.E. 64 animal sacrifices were still being offered at the Temple in Jerusalem, 33 years after the Messiah ascended into the heavens.
Josephus, the Jewish Historian
Josephus reported the day, the month, and the year when the Daily Sacrifices ceased to be offered at the Temple in Jerusalem; the 17th day of the month Tamuz, in 70 C.E. (Wars, 6.2.1).
The Apostle Paul died in about C.E. 66, four years before animal sacrifices ceased to be offered in the Temple. In other words, animal sacrifices out-lasted the Apostle Paul. Once this is understood we can easily see that the Apostle Paul did not intend to convey the thought that animal sacrifices had already ceased to be offered in his lifetime, or that of Yahshua. Since they were still being offered in Paul's day (in 66 C.E.), certainly they had not ceased when Yahshua the "Seed" came (in 4 B.C.E - 31 C.E.).
Neither would Paul propose that the Law of Yahweh (or any part of it) had ceased to exist (be abolished) once the "Seed" came. No law of Yahweh had been abolished in Paul's day (Lk. 16:17; Mt. 4:4; 5:17 -19; Rom. 3:19, 31; 7:1, 12, 14, 16; 1 Pet. 1:23-25).
Paul's Message
Since Paul did not convey such a thought (the Law was abolished), just what is his message in Gal. 3:19?
Strong's Concordance indicates the word "till" is an added word, and does not appear in the Greek. If true, this would drastically change the meaning. However, I found no other reference book which agrees with Mr. Strong, so let us assume there really is a Greek word back of the English word "till" in Gal. 3:19. If so, what is Paul's message? We have seen that no law of Yahweh (or Law of Moses) has been abolished; not even the sacrificial law. These have only be suspended for the present time.
Evidently Paul did not intend to convey the message that The Law endured only until the Messiah came. Instead, the message seems to be: once he came, the Messiah would deal with sin; transgression of the law; that is, he would remove sin. This was the purpose in his first coming. This view is supported by the following Scripture:
"So the Messiah, ...will appear a second time not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Heb. 9:28).
He will come to save, not to deal with sin as at his first coming. Now, let us consult several versions for better understanding of Gal. 3:19.
The Kingdom Translation
"Why then the law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; ..." (Gal. 3:19, Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1985).
Please notice: According to this version, the law was not added "until the seed came." Instead, the law was added to make transgressions known; to emphasis them - until the seed came. The implication is, once the Seed arrived, he would deal with sin. As we know, he did just that - by giving his life for our transgressions. He did not removed the law. Instead he removed our sins.
The Jerusalem Bible
"What then was the purpose of adding the law? This was done to specify crimes, until the posterity came to whom the promise was addressed" (Gal. 3:19, Jerusalem Bible).
Again, the law was not "added until the seed came." Instead the law was added to emphasize crime.
The Knox Version
"What, then, is the purpose of the law? It was brought in to make room for transgressions, while we waited for the coming of that posterity, to whom the promise had been made" (Knox Version).
Here the key words are: "while we waited" for the coming Seed.
Conclusion
The law was to last until the coming of the Messiah. When the Messiah came, did he state that the law was made void, useless, or that it was taken out of the way? No. Instead, he reported to his accusers that no part of the law (not even the smallest part) would be come void. The Law will stand as long as heaven and earth. It did not, and will not, become void (Lk. 16:17; Mt. 5:17-19).
We can safely conclude that Paul would not contradict his own writings in which he upholds The Law (Rom. 3:31; 7:1, 12-16), by reversing himself in Gal. 3:19. Nor would he contradict the Law of Yahweh, whose prophets have written that the Law of Yahweh abides forever (Ps. 119:152), perpetually; as long as Israel has generations (Lev. 16:31-34).
The evidence seems solid: Since the Apostle Paul upheld the Law of Yahweh (every portion of it), we cannot, we must not, believe that he advocates abolishing the law in Gal. 3:19. Instead, mankind waited for the Messiah's coming. Eventually Yahshua the Messiah will receive the inheritance promised to him at the chief descendant of Abraham, and will share with all who faithfully wait for his appearing.
Halleluyah!
