The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 166

oumte; for the phrase, "curse of God," Is The passage before us illustrates the mean- probo.bly a strongly intensive form of ex- ing of ~he words in eh. ii. 19, "I through th,, preeeion,"like'" wrestlinge of God," in Gen. Law died unto the Law: " be felt himself xxx. 8 (" great wreetlings," Authorized disconnected from the ceremonial Law, iu Version). 'See note on "exceeding great consequence of that Law pronouncin er Christ city" (Hebrew, "a city great unto God") cr~cified "a curse of God." A question in Jono.h iii. S, in 'Speaker's Commentary.' anees, how far the crucifixion of Christ According to this view, ~1rucaTapaTos, in viewed in this particular aspect of its con~ which the element l,rl ie intensive, ie a just stituting him in the eye of the ceremonial interpretation; while it also makes the Law an accursed thing, modified for those clause more striking as an antithesis to the who believe on him the effect of the maledic- brncaTapaTos, etc., il1 ver. 10. We are, per- tion which the Law pronounced upon such as haps,justified ,in adding that it would not violated its moral precepts. The followiacr have exactly suited the apostle's purpose observations are offered for the reader'~ to admit the words," by God;" for, though consideration. The Law given in the Pen- the Law pronounced the crucified Jesus a. tatencb is uniformly spoken of in Seri pture "curse," God, in the apostle's feeling, did as forming one whole. Composed of pre- not in this case ratify,", the Law'.e maledic- cepts, some moral, some ceremonial, some tion. To understand the beanng of the partaking mixedly of both qualities, it con- verse rightly it is necessary to be quite stituted, however,one entire coherent system. clear ea to the sense in which Christ is If a part of it was destroyed, the whole Law here said to have become a curse. The as such itself perished. If so, then the cross context shows tho.t he became a curse simply of Christ, byannihilatingitsceremonial enact- by hanging upon a tree. No spiritual trane- ments, shattered in pieces the whole legisla- e.ctfon, such as that of our guilt being laid tion, so that the disciples of Christ are no upon him, comes into view here at e.11. It longer al, all under its dominion,,or subjects we.a simply the suspension upon a cross jurisprudentially (so to speak) to its coercive that imparted to him, in the eye of the p11nitive power. Yet its moral precepts, so Law, this character of aocureednees, of ex- far as they embodied the eternal principles treme abhorrent.defilement. In other words, of rectitude, would, so far, and because they the accursedness was the extreme of cere- do so, and not because they were part of monial pollutednese-oeremonial, with no the Law given through Moses, continue to admixture of guilt or spir~tuol pollution. It express the will of God concerning us. has, indeed, been 'attempted by critica,Jewieh Being, however, "letter " and not •• spirit," as well as Christian, as Bishop Lightfoot they were al ways o.ltogether inadequate he.a shown, to ju'11tify this aphorism of the expressions of that Divine will-a. will which Law, by the plea that one 'thus punished is spiritual, which is evermore changing its might inferentially be supposed to bavo form and aspect towards each human soul, merited this form of , execution by some according to the ever-varying conditions of especial enormity' ,of guilt. But, plainly, its spiritual position. The moro.l precepts such previous guiltiness might not have of the Law are for us no more than types or been present;, the ,man crucified, or impaled, figures, mere hints or suggestions of th<'> or bung might have suffered upon a folse spiritual duties wbich they refer to; they accusation. But though he bad suffered cannot be regarded as definitively regula.ti ve unjustly, his'being gibbeted would, notwith- laws at all. Thus they appear to be freo.ted standing ,hie innocence, constitute him "a by Christ o.nd bis apostles; as e.g. Matt. v. curse of God" all the same. Ceremonfal 21-37; 1 Cor. ix. 8-10; and it is in this pollutedness, as well as ceremonial purity, light that the Churt'h of England regards we.a altogether independent of moral con- them, in reciting the Deealoguo in her Pre- siderations. And at present the line of Communion Office. And, analogously, the thought which , the o.postle is following curse which the Law pronounces upon those relates simply to questions of Levitical or who set any of its precepts at nought, ceremonial purity or defilement. Have whether moral or ceremonial, may be re- Christian believers as such anything to do go.rded as a mere type, revealing. or rather , with these matters? This is ·the point at giving a slightest most imperfect glimpse issue. The apostle proves that they have of, thu wmtll with which the Divine jnstice nothing to do with them, upon the ground burns agtiinst wilful transgressors of tbo that the crucifixion of Christ did away eternl\l Lo.w; o hint or suggestion, again, wholly with the ceremonial Lo.w. It will and not its direct denouncement. God's only confuse the reader if he supposes that people, however, by being through faith the apostle means· here to, embody the whple united to the crucified and risen Christ, doctrine of Christ's eacrificio.l atonement; become through his cross dead to the wholu ho is at present concerned with st[lting the L,iw of Moses, both as regulative and as rl)lation which his passion bore to the Law. punitive,-freed from it absolutely; DOt, 132 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. [on. III. 1-29.