The Schoolmaster’s Purpose

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:23-25

The schoolmaster (the Law of Moses) is a harsh and heavy yoke to bear because our sin is exceedingly sinful.

If we were perfect, and able to completely obey the Law, it would not be so ruthlessly cruel. However, we have an advantage in the severity of the Law in that we find rest for our souls in Christ.

The condemnation, death and punishment we suffered under the Law led us to Christ’s easy yoke and light burden. And this was the schoolmaster’s purpose.

The purpose of the schoolmaster was not that we would cease from all sin. Its purpose was to bring us to Christ who was sinless in our place.

If the schoolmaster’s mission was to make us sinless, Christ would have never delivered us from the Law, and the Apostle Paul would have commanded us to remain under it and do its deeds. The schoolmaster’s purpose was to bring us to

Christ who kept the Law for us in our place.

The schoolmaster’s purpose was not to aid us in living holy lives, acceptable to God, because according to Romans 3:21, the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets.

The purpose of the schoolmaster was to lead us to Christ who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. The purpose of the Law was not to shield us from condemnation.

On the contrary, it condemned and killed us, so that we might find life in Christ.

And now, Christ is our shield, who defends and protects us from the curse of the Law.