Christ Fulfills the Law

¹⁷ “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.^{(A) 18} For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter^[a] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.

An Illustration from Marriage

7 Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters,^(A) don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives? ² For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives.^(B) But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. ³ So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death^(C) in relation to the law^(D) through the body of Christ^(E) so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.

⁵ So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles^(A) among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard— ⁶ just like Abraham who believed God,^(B) and it was credited to him for righteousness?^[a](C)

⁷ You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.^{(D) 8} Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham,^(E) saying, All the nations^[b] will be blessed through you.^{[c](F) 9} Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,^(G) who had faith.^[d]

Law and Promise

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,^(H) because it is written,^(I) Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.^{[e](J) 11} Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live^(K) by faith.^{[f](L) 12} But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.^{[g](M) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,^(N) because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.^{[h](O) 14} The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.^(P)

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.^{[i] 16} Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,^[j](Q) who is Christ. ¹⁷ My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later,^(R) does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God^[k] and thus cancel the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given?^(S) It was added for the sake of transgressions^[l] until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels^(T) by means of a mediator.^{(U) 20} Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.^{(V) 21} Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power,^[m](W) so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith^(X) in Jesus Christ to those who believe.^{(Y) 23} Before this faith^(Z) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.^{(AA) 24} The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,^(AB) so that we could be justified by faith. ²⁵ But since that faith^(AC) has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.

⁶ But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator^(A) of a better covenant,^(B) which has been established on better promises.^(C)

A Superior Covenant

⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. ⁸ But finding fault with his people,^[a] he says:^[b]

¹³ By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.^(G)