Remember when the LORD gave Moses the Law? Before then, the LORD had spoke what was wise, what was in agreement with His perspective, what would be right for mankind. We never consistently took God serious about what He said. Then Moses under the direction of the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt and Moses was preparing them for living following the LORD. They had the presence of God in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night yet they continued to disbelieve the LORD. When they grumbled against God’s leading, He gave them water but also gave them Law,
…There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” 1
We go no further than the next chapter, Exodus 16, before the ‘whole crowd grumbled,’
And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 2
Do you see the pattern, the need for the LORD to give Laws which are merciful attempts not to wipe them out and go find someone else to serve Him? Would you believe that the beginning of the very next chapter of Exodus is,
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why… 3
When the Israelites arrive at the plain below Mount Sinai, less than three months after leaving Egypt,
There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 4
Do you recognize the heart of the LORD as able for relationship with the peoples, the tenderness, the plea for them to be His distinctively? Then in the following several chapters, the LORD details His priorities for relationship with Him. Now jump forward about 1,500 years during which the Jews (and everyone else also) fail to live in relationship with the LORD. When Paul reminds Timothy of the nature of the Law of works, it is in the context of this history.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 5
The Law was a law of works, of doing certain things and not doing other things. Mankind proved the need of Law by violating everything God told us was important for appropriate relationship with Him. Does relationship with God come by keeping the Law, by works?
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 6
Jesus has made the Way for something more fitting for righteousness beyond the failures of living by works.
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 7
What then is the value of the Law of works? What purpose does Law serve? In the more traditional translations, the Law is called a ‘schoolmaster’ to show us our need for the salvation founded upon faith rather than works. In ESV ‘schoolmaster’ is translated ‘guardian’ which in the Greek was the keeper who watched over a child and was responsible for bringing the child up equipped for adulthood, responsibility, fruitfulness, participation.
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 8
The Law is suited to show us the standard of who the LORD is and His values and priorities so we know what is needed to agree with Him but the Law was never intended to enable relationship with God. Rather, the Law teaches us we must believe in He is able to give faith in His Grace sufficient that we are saved not by works. Amen.
