Does Paul believe that God sandbagged the Jews with a law they couldn't keep?

Question

In Galatians 3:10, Paul says: "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them." And at Romans 3:23 he says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Based on the above, it appears that Paul believes that God gave the Jews commandments they could not possibly observe and therefore (until the coming of Jesus) they were destined to sin without the possibility of redemption. Or in other words, He sandbagged the Jews by giving them the Torah. Can this be? God would condemn His people to eternal Hell because they accepted a Law that was impossible to keep?

Is it possible that Paul is also rejecting David's understanding that the "Torah of God is perfect, restoring the soul," that the "commandment of the Lord is pure" and His "ordinances ... are true, they are righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:8-10)? Is Paul also rejecting David's understanding that so long as he avoids intentional sins, "that they may not rule over me," and if God helps him to avoid unintentional sins, "then I will be perfect and I will be cleansed of much transgression" (Psalm 19:13-14)?

Also, please consider how Paul's position that the Torah is impossible, compares to Deuteronomy 30:11 which explicitly says that the commandments "are not too hard for you."

Answer 1

It is helpful to understand the purpose(s) of the Mosaic Law. Quickly:

1. It was intended to point people to their need for a Savior (Gal 3:19; Rom 5:20).
2. It was intended to highlight their sinful nature (Rom 7:7).
3. It taught many aspects of God and peoples' relationship to him. For examples, the sacrificial system was a reminder of humanity's need for a permanent, perfect atonement (Heb 10); the priests showed them their need for a mediator; the temple reminded them of holiness; the dietary laws reminded them of being "distinct" themselves; etc.

With that information, no, God did not "sandbag" the Jews with the Law because the Law was never intended to save. It was never a means to salvation. It was always intended to teach them (again, Gal 3) about sin, about atonement, about Christ, etc. So in that sense, it was a great blessing: no other people groups had that teaching.

Also, it was never the Law (alone) that condemned one to Hell. It was sin, and one doesn't need the Mosaic Law to sin. See Rom 2:12-ff (but really, it's the whole argument of Rom 1:18-3:20 0 - with or without the Law, someone is a sinner and is condemned to death). Yes, the Law made the Jews more guilty, but that is true of anything that gives knowledge -- we become responsible for what we know.

But to your point: yea, it was impossible to keep. Not because it's so strict, but because they were sinners. David understood that: he understood points 1-3 above and that is why he knew they were holy and good. The precepts taught him about God, and about himself. See also Eph 2:11-ff.

EDIT (added per @Bruce James comment) Re: Deut 30:11, I would argue that what is not "too hard" is understanding the Law. Look at vv12-14. They have to do with how "near" the Law is. You don't have to go to heaven or into the sea to "get" it. It does not have to do with ability to obey the law perfectly.

Re: Deut 30:15-20, there is nothing in there that has to do with eternal salvation. Obeying the Law did lead to temporal, earthly blessings and disobedience did lead to being enslaved and run out of the land. The rest of the OT bears that out.

Re: Psa 19, I'm not sure what you're looking at that has to do with your question. Based on my reply above, the Law remains "sure... right... pure..." What does Psa 19 have to do with keeping or not keeping the Law?

Paul never says anything bad about the Law, so where are you seeing disagreement with Psa 19?

To summarize, it was quite impossible for the Jews (or anyone) to keep the Mosaic Law perfectly. It exposed their sin and their need for a Savior. It also exposed the character of God. For those reasons, the Law is good and holy, and both the OT and NT allude to all of this.

Answer 2

Galatians 3:10

10 Ὅσοι γὰρ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου εἰσὶν, ὑπὸ κατάραν εἰσίν, γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι “Ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς ὃς οὐκ ἐμμένει πᾶσιν τοῖς γεγραμμένοις ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτά 11 ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον, ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται 12 ὁ δὲ νόμος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ πίστεως, ἀλλ’ Ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς. 13 Χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἐξηγόρασεν ἐκ τῆς κατάρας τοῦ νόμου γενόμενος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα, ὅτι γέγραπται Ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς ὁ κρεμάμενος ἐπὶ ξύλου 14 ἵνα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ γένηται ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, ἵνα τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Πνεύματος λάβωμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως.

10 For as many as [live] by¹ the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do them”—all that is written in the book of the Law. 11 And it is evident that no one is justified by the Law before God because “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 The Law, however, is not [based on]² faith, but rather, “He that does these [things] shall live by them” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everything that hangs on a tree.” 14 This was so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Jesus Christ; that through faith we might recieve the promise of the Spirit.

¹ “as many as are of the Law”*

² “the Law is not of faith”*

St. Paul's argument is that the Law was not even in the 'genre' of 'means of salvation' as such. The Law was never said to be a means of salvation per se, it was simply a way of living under God as a holy people, obedient to a set of rules which made them stand out morally and culturally from the rest of the world (and ultimately prepared them for the Law of Christ, which is based on this understanding that grace underlies salvation, not just 'our end' of things, and our own efforts—in fact, that it's almost inspite of our efforts).

He isn't saying the Law is impossible. In fact, St. Paul, writing of himself, says, “as touches righteousness in the Law, blameless” (Philippians 3:6).

Scripture elsewhere in the New Testament says as much about Elizabeth and Zechariah, “[B]oth where righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Luke 1:6).

I think St. Paul is arguing, rather, that God humored the infant 'holy people' he plucked out of the fallen world for ages past, until the One who provided their salvation all along, Jesus, arrived. Before then He simply humored them in light of the merits of the redemption, which He applied to them all along.

All the speak of impossibility or inability to save and being bound to keep the whole of the Law is to drive the point through that when one assumes they can be justified before God purely by the Law, they have already erred. Since there exists no one who keeps it flawlessly in its every detail, only according to the human 'substandard' God suffers from them. And they are inconsistent in that, if they relied purely on the Law, then if they slipped even once, this implies they would go to Hell (i.e. "cursed is everone who does not continue to do them") (since receiving that one bit of mercy that one time would show how purely basing salvation on the Law is inconsistent, because this one mercy implies that it is God's mercy the whole time). (Romans 4:2).

It would also be incompatible with the truth St. Paul relates in Galatians 3:18: "For if the inheritance depends on the Law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise."

The Law, for instance, didn't give people the right to go to heaven. They were merely not condemned to Hell in light of Christ's redemption of them (from sin). Then, when He reopened heaven by defeating death, they were brought into glory. (1 Peter 3:18-20)

St. Paul would write elsewhere (Rom 4:2) that Abraham was justified by faith, and not the works he did per se (although they were not of the Law, but general works). The faith was why God was pleased because the faith led to a will to do what God wanted of Him. Works don't come without, first, intention. The fulfilling of the Law doesn't come without genuine piety toward the Law of God.

In summary, faithfully keeping the Law justified people not because when you 'do the Law' God owes to leave you alone and forgive you your sins, but because you are showing God that you are willing to do anything he asks (Abraham, incidentally, being probably the best example of this, hence why St. Paul uses it).

St. James writes the exact opposite (James 2~) of what St. Paul writes, but not univocally, that is, not using the same terms with the same nuance and context, in that he says that Abraham was justified by works (in general, not just of the Law), but only because without works, faith is also void and non-existent ("dead"). Much like how love is non-existent if it does not have a positive 'urge' to 'leap out' and spread itself to others—it's a dead seed.

St. Paul sums up that the Law was given to keep people from offending God further until Christ should come, in Galatians 3:19:

"Why, then, the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by messengers by the hand of a mediator."

Answer 3

Israel was carried "On Eagles Wings" as she was led from Egypt, to Sinai where God visibly appeared to her and made an Everlasting Covenant with her; making her a chosen people unto Himself, and a great nation, which would strike terror and dread amongst her enemies, and be a sign to all the nations of the earth that God was with them. He sanctified her, and gave her His Law, which by doing she would live. The point being, from the beginning God had extended great mercy and favor towards her, in spite of the many setbacks and backslidings, He had always been an "ever present help in time of need". Therefore, her relationship with God has always been one of faith, even as the faith of Abraham, who trusted God and was accounted righteous, in spite of his failings and setbacks.

Before one delves into the argument of Law v Faith, made by the Apostle Paul, one must be mindful of Paul's audience. 1 Cor. 10:32 says,

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

There are 3 Different Audiences Paul addresses: 1) The Jew, 2) The Gentile(pagan, non-believer), 3) Church of God(Christian-including believing Jews, and believing non-Jews)

Paul makes a distinction in addressing each group: in Romans 2:17-29 he says

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Here, he addresses a man who knows the Law of God, is familiar with His ways, and yet infers that if he breaks the Law, "his circumcision is as uncircumcision", whereas, one who is uncircumcised yet keeps the Law, is the same as if he were circumcised.

2 things stand out: 1) Circumcision profits-if you keep the Law, 2) A Jew is one who's heart is circumcised. This begs the next question which Paul addresses in Rom. 3:1-2,

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God

They know, and were given and taught the oracles of God. This is not the Gentile audience, nor the Church of God, addressed in Galatians.

The Gentile audience is addressed in Roman 1:20-23,

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The result is,

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Lastly, we have the Church of God, who is addressed in Gal. 3, and it is with this group there is a controversy. There are believing Jews, which are "zealous for the Law". in Acts 21:18-24 it says,

And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law

Some had accused Paul of "forsaking the Law" and teaching other Jewish believers to do so. In response, they told Paul to "take a vow of purification" to prove once and for all that he was under the Law, as well as other Jewish believers.

But as to the non-Jewish believers, the disciples had already addressed that issue in Act 15:8-11

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

The conclusion was,(vss 24-29)

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This is the context of Gal. 3; not that Paul is disparaging the Law, but that apart from grace through faith, it is impossible to keep the Law. Furthermore, in regards to the Galatians, who were non-Jewish believers,

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

They were originally preached to by Paul, and responded to the message by faith, the Holy Spirit bearing witness to their conversion. Certain Jewish believers came from Jerusalem(or Antioch) telling the Galatians unless they came under the Law, they were not saved. This is how to rightly understand Gal. 3:10,

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

They are abandoning the "righteousness by faith" to supposedly achieve acceptance "Under the Law", when the Law had not been given to them(excluding what I said concerning the 10 Commandments and the 2 Great Commandments). It became a "curse" to them, and a yoke of bondage when it was clear God wasn't requiring the "works of the Law", but the obedience of faith from them.

So then, what about the Jews? Is it a fair assumption to say they were "sandbagged by God" with the Torah, and without the means to keep it?

No, No, and a thousand times NO!

God GAVE the Torah to the Nation of Israel with the provision of grace to keep it. Unlike the non-Jewish nations, He made them a "holy nation", "a people set apart for Himself". He gave them the Land and the Promise of Descendants, which to this day He has fulfilled. He gave them an Everlasting Covenant, which He promised that the sun and the stars would quit shining before He would disavow His Covenant.

But the "Just shall Live by his faith"(Hab. 2:4). This is the message of Rom. 3:30-31,

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

And for the believing Jew and non-Jew,(Acts 15:8-11) Peter says,

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they

Therefore, all were to live by faith.

Answer 4

Scripture also says we must be holy, both in the new and old testaments. There's a whole list in Lev. 20. God is very specific. Holiness in this chapter means to abstain from immorality (which are sins against the body) and eating clean and unclean, which modern day Christianity rejects as legalism...and this is only one section. Holiness means to observe the Sabbath and the feast days.

The crux of the Torah is that God wants His presence in every area of our lives. Putting certain kinds of food in our mouth, for example, just doesn't seem to equate to holiness. But just advertise that you have a food that will turn back the ravages of time on the human body, and people will sign up "in a heartbeat". We need to return to the authentic expression of Christianity that was displayed in the first century...which, also, means persecution. What we eat, for example, tells us how we view the temples we are housed inside. We would not bring unclean things into the Holy Temple in the first century. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14303-temple-administration-and-service-of

Answer 5

Paul never argued that the torah was too hard or impossible to be kept completely. The phrase about being under curse comes from Deut 27:26 which demanded complete obedience to the law. Paul's arguments to Galatians is that they are compelled to obey whole law and thereby lose the gracious salvation by faith under the new covenant. The law has been finished through Christ. His arguments never suggest that the law was ineffective or impossible to observe. The Mosaic law was indeed very exhaustive and burdensome because of the ceremonial and ritual aspects; which repeatedly reminds and enhanced our sins. The law itself expects disobedience to minor ceremonial precepts and it even makes explicit provision for it, mentioning sin offerings in twenty chapters of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers and some 120 times in the Tanakh.

Paul's message was not that the law was vain and impossible to be kept rightfully but that now the requirement for justification has been changed under the new covenant; trying to keep the burdensome law which has been made obsolete would gain us nothing.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

Compare for this conception of the gospel, as manifested at a particular epoch of time, Rom. 16:25-26; Act. 17:30; Gal. 3:23; Gal. 3:25; Gal. 4:3-4; Eph. 1:10; Eph. 2:12-15; Col. 1:21; Col. 1:26; 1Ti. 2:6; 2Ti. 1:10; Heb. 1:1; 1Pe. 1:20.

The new requirement of righteousness is apart or independent from the law. Paul never argued that the law was ineffective or impossible but that it was holy and good

Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

cf Rom 7:14; Rom 3:31; Rom 12:2; Deut 4:8; Deut 10:12; Neh 9:13; Ps 19:7-12; Ps 119

Answer 6

1. Question Restatement:

Ultimately, I think the question might be answered, in: "Even supposing that God gave Israel a law they could keep, and live by - was that law preserved?"

2. Answer

Ezekiel 20:23-25 - 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live;

This passage and its context are not ambiguous: this was not "sabotage", but a judgment against them, given how they had provoked God, (that law acting as a schoolmaster, disciplining, until they came to maturity.)

Paul's Writing Style:

Paul's writing style is "legal" - and intended to be clear, religious rulings - exactly like the Jewish practice of doing this, (the form of his arguments and use of hypotheticals are exactly the same). Paul's writing style very clearly indicates that he really had been trained in Judaic argument, as a Pharisee.

To be understood - Paul repeats, and explains, over and again. His use of "qualifications" are wrongfully over-looked, and ignored - which are incredibly important in his style of writing. This causes many erroneous interpretations of his writings. (See the related question: Why is it possible to “fall from grace” by keeping the law?).

Even Jesus used "legal qualifications" in this way: "The greatest commandment - of the law." "... the one who has no sin." etc.

The problem with this question is that its emphatic qualification is not considered: "all who rely on works" Rely on it for what purpose?

Conclusion: So - if even Hebrew Scripture indicates that the law was "a curse / judgment against Israel", then it seems reasonable to interpret Paul at face-value.

Answer 7

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse

First off it's only those who rely on works of the law that are under it's curse. So what it is saying is that if you have no faith in Messiah then you are living totally by works and you will fail at that. We need to realize that the Israelite's had faith in the same thing as "Christians" (for lack of a better word) and that was in the Messiah. The only difference is that today we know his name and how he died.

All that have faith in Messiah will be saved when He returns, weather or not they keep the Torah. The difference is that those who do not obey Torah will receive the practical curses. This is what Paul is referring to when he says "the curse of the law". What do I mean by practical curses? By this I mean they happen in this life and do not affect salvation. To see them all read Deuteronomy 28:15-68

Also as a side note, the Torah was not given to the Jews... How may tribes where there at the base of Mount Sinai? Twelve. How many tribes became the Jewish people? One. And that was the Tribe of Judah. So the Torah was given to all of Israel.