Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
Summary: The Galatians did not know that by agreeing to live by the law they were binding themselves to an agreement they could never keep.
When I was a little kid, my parents took me and my brothers to a roadside carnival that had come to our town. It wasn’t much to look at, but for a little kid who was only four years old, it was amazing! The ride that caught my eye was a carousel-type machine with small metal airplanes hanging from chains. When the ride started, the little planes would zoom around and around. In my imagination, I knew it would be like flying a real airplane.
I don’t remember asking to go on the ride or waiting in line, but I remember climbing into the little metal airplane. It had a metal bench seat and two little metal steering wheels. If I remember right, they actually moved the flaps up and down to tilt the plane.
This adventure happened in the days before seat belts, so there was nothing to hold me in the seat except gravity. Oh … and did I tell you my little brother was sitting next to me?
The ride started, and our little metal plane began to fly! The little plane was zooming through the air, and I was intently trying to steer until my brother slid over on my side of the plane. The plane was hanging from chains front and back and could tip side-to-side. When my brother slid toward me, all our weight was on one side of the airplane. At that point, the law of gravity took over. The plane tipped up on its side, and my brother ended up sitting on top of me for the rest of the ride. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t shove him off me, and no amount of steering would help. The law of gravity had taken over.
Paul understood that the Galatians had been taken in by those teaching a “different gospel.” They imagined themselves entering this new gospel and taking control of all the levers and buttons the law includes. Paul also understood the burden of the law when it was fully embraced. When the law comes down on top of you, it is far heavier than my little brother was on that airplane ride. There is no way to lift the burden from your back and no relief from the guilt that comes with the law. The weight of the law is more than any of us can bear.
Application: Beware of falling into the trap that the Galatians fell into.
Food for Thought: What is it about the law that makes it so burdensome?
Thank you for all prayers. Our Lord guided the medical staff as they performed a successful 8 hour surgery on my wife. She will spend 5-6 days in ICU and I will bring her home. Praise God!
What is it about the law that makes it so burdensome?
Matthew 23:1–12 Jesus condemns the religious leaders of Israel, the scribes and the Pharisees. He warns not to follow their example, since they don’t practice what they preach. Their teachings lay heavy burdens on others, while their actions don’t reflect the same. They make no effort to help others fulfill those requirements. Everything they do is for show: only to be seen and approved of by others. They make a great show of religious clothes and symbols, jockey for the seats of honor everywhere they go, and take enormous pride in their prestigious spiritual titles.
My yoke is easy and my burden is light Matthew 11:30
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3, John 16:13, Romans 8:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:16, John 14:26
Ron,
Praise God indeed! Thank you for the report on your wife’s surgery!
Yes, the burden of the “law” is the legalism you point to. The joy of the law is Jesus. 🙂
Good points R2T2. I agree.
I think one reason the law is so burdensome actually has little to do with the law and has a lot to do with me. The law reveals the depths of my sin. And my sin nature at works makes the law an unreachable goal.
Romans 3: 19 – 20: Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
This points to my need for Jesus.
Romans 3: 21 – 26: 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith in h Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, i through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Rich,
Great point! I love how you point to the effect of the law. It is like a giant searchlight that illuminates every flaw in our plans and our life.