Galatians 3:10-13: “For as many as are OF the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does NOT continue in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law, TO DO THEM.‘ 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’ 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’)”
Verse 11 above is merely an intellectual observation about the abstract concept of justification. Verse 11 is apparently directed towards people like hard core Jews incorrectly believing that ONLY law keeping, WITHOUT faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and WITHOUT believing what Jesus taught, will save them and will justify them before God. Verse 11 does not clearly give permission to abandon law keeping. Righteous Christians need to have faith, living by or steadfastly keeping that faith and trust and complete belief about Jesus and every thing He said, and need to have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus did atone for their past sins.
Far too many Christians, though, have become deceived into thinking that the law itself is a curse, but Paul himself in Romans 7:12 said that the law is holy. Romans 7:12: “Why the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Paul’s “curse of the law” wording means a curse DECREED BY THE LAW or COMMANDED BY THE LAW. He does not actually describe THE LAW ITSELF as a curse. In verse 10 Paul explains that ONLY those who fail to obey the law are cursed. Galatians 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 CONTINUES NOT in all things which are written in the book of the law TO DO THEM.” SO THE CURSE (referring to the penalty for breaking the law, which can be death) APPLIES TO THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE LAW. No curse is pronounced on people who obey “all the things” in the law.
A related Old Testament verse helps explain what the curse is in Galatians 3:10-13.
Hosea 13:14: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will REDEEM them from death ……”
Jesus Christ, Who is the God of the OT, said that He will redeem the righteous from death, which is the curse of the law. DEATH is the curse, NOT the law itself.
Galatians 3:10-13 also paraphrases several Old Testament verses.
Deuteronomy 27:26: “CURSED BE HE that CONFIRMS NOT all the words of this law TO DO THEM. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
So again, the curse obviously is not the law, it is just the penalty or result for failing to obey the law.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23: “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and you hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is ACCURSED of God;) that your land be not defiled ……”
These verses explain exactly who is cursed and why. The curse applies only to people, sinning people, not to something inanimate like the law.
Galatians 3:10-13: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who DOES NOT continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them. 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law ……” Again, verse 13 DOES NOT say that Christ redeemed us from the law, but rather from the curse (referring to the penalty for law disobedience which can even be death) of the law. “Us” is referring to converted, law obeying Christians. Verse 13 also does not state or even imply that there is no need to continue observing the law. In addition, verse 13 does not say that a curse is imposed on those who obey the law.
In Romans 2:13 Paul said that it is the DOERS OF THE LAW, not the hearers, WHO ARE JUSTIFIED.
Analyzing verse 10 even more closely, it says
Galatians 3:10: “For as many as are OF the works of the law are under the curse; ……” (NKJV)
Galatians 3:10: “For as many as have ABANDONED the works of the law are under the curse; ……” (an even more literal, more insightful translation [not an official translation])
The original Greek for OF is ek, Strong’s number 1537. Ek can be used figuratively as well as literally, and remotely as well as directly. LSJ Gloss defines ek as “from out of” and Dodson defines ek as “from out” or “out from among” “suggesting from the interior outwards.” TBESG defines ek as “from out of” and “of motion outwards, separation from,” “from among,” and “forth from.” Ek is also defined as “of change from one place or condition to another” and “of separation or distinction from a number.” Ek can also refer to “of succession in time,” and “procession, removal, opening out, unfolding.” Thayer includes “out of” and “away from” as translations of ek. “Off” and “out from” also are other translations of ek according to the Strong’s concordance. So ek strongly implies a movement AWAY from law keeping or an abandonment of “works of the law,” which is a definition more consistent with these Galatian verses emphasizing that law breakers have incurred the penalty of death (the curse) for sinning. The extremely literal JP Green Literal Translation of verse 10 is rendered as follows:
Galatians 3:10: “For as many as are OUT OF works of Law, these are under a curse. For it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things having been written in the book of the Law, to do them. Deut. 27:26.”
Green’s translation is more logical and understandable since it seems to indicate “being away from” or “failing to be a part of” law keeping or “works of law,” which is more consistent with the context of verses 10-13.
“For as many as are FROM the works of the law are under a curse; for it has been written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is not remaining in all things which have been written in the book of the law, and to practice them.’ ” (Modern Literal Version)
In the literal MLV translation above “from” is used instead of the usual, slightly deceptive “of,” which suggests separation from law keeping, which can incur a curse.
In the Old Testament sinners deserving the death penalty were sometimes hung on trees after execution to serve as a public example to help deter crime. They were displayed to the public as convicted law breakers truly cursed for their sins. Every one is guilty of sin, so we all deserve to be displayed as convicted, cursed sinners. Jesus Christ, though, bore the full curse of public disgrace and death that we all deserve for sinning. Jesus really did, then, redeem us from the curse or penalty of the law for sinning. Jesus Christ was crucified and then displayed as a condemned criminal, and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).
Don’t let anyone, no matter how impressive looking or sounding, trick you into thinking that the law itself is the curse in these verses. It is, clearly, not the curse. Law keeping is repeatedly confirmed in a positive way above and elsewhere in the Bible, so Christians must continue to obey the law with the exception of the sacrifice, circumcision, and Levitical priesthood laws which the apostles went out of their way to explain were abolished.
For additional study please visit http://www.ucg.org/booklet/new-covenant-does-it-abolish-gods-law/circumcision-vs-new-creation-christ/curse-law/. Another great site is http://rcg.org/articles/acfftoc.html (read especially the middle part of the page).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unless indicated otherwise, all Biblical quotations are from the New King James Version. ).