"Payment of the Penalty"Galatians 3:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Thoughts for Today:The Greek word used for "redeemed" is EXAGORAZO, which means "by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off" (according to Strong's Lexicon). This would equate to going into the slave market and paying the price required for a person's release from the bondage of slavery. In the context of our passage today, Paul is saying that Christ removed us from the principle of the Law that made us a slave by becoming payment for us. Christ's death paid in full the justice the Law demanded.
Paul also quotes Deuteronomy 21:23: "You must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance." The point Paul makes is that justice was satisfied when Jesus died for the Law humanity broke. He paid the prescribed penalty and bore the curse so there is no condemnation waiting for us. (Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.").
In John 5:39, Jesus said: "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." The Jews thought the Law was eternal life, but Jesus replaced the Law by becoming its full expression. (Hebrews 1:3: "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.") And the Law only could be satisfied in Christ Jesus by His perfect obedience and the perfection of His sacrifice.
Questions to Ponder:What Jesus did was so wonderful, so incredible -- how could we think that anything we do by our own effort could ever add to the work He accomplished for our benefit?
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Thoughts for Today:The Greek word used for "redeemed" is EXAGORAZO, which means "by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off" (according to Strong's Lexicon). This would equate to going into the slave market and paying the price required for a person's release from the bondage of slavery. In the context of our passage today, Paul is saying that Christ removed us from the principle of the Law that made us a slave by becoming payment for us. Christ's death paid in full the justice the Law demanded.
Paul also quotes Deuteronomy 21:23: "You must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance." The point Paul makes is that justice was satisfied when Jesus died for the Law humanity broke. He paid the prescribed penalty and bore the curse so there is no condemnation waiting for us. (Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.").
In John 5:39, Jesus said: "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." The Jews thought the Law was eternal life, but Jesus replaced the Law by becoming its full expression. (Hebrews 1:3: "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.") And the Law only could be satisfied in Christ Jesus by His perfect obedience and the perfection of His sacrifice.
Questions to Ponder:What Jesus did was so wonderful, so incredible -- how could we think that anything we do by our own effort could ever add to the work He accomplished for our benefit?
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