What is the Curse of the Law? (Galatians 3:13 Meaning)

Here we are going to address the famous phrase, "curse of the law," from Galatians 3:13. We will look at common misunderstandings about this passage, and find out what Paul was really getting at when he used these words. We will see this from a 'covenant of vocation' perspective instead of the more common 'works contract' view of God's plan for humanity - as explained by N.T. Wright. 

"The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse on our behalf." -Galatians 3:13

Most of Christianity teaches that the curse of the law is eternal condemnation when we fail to follow God's instructions in the tiniest way. Any slip up, whether intentional or not, cuts us off from God and sends us to hell. Within this framework, God's law is believed to be so complex that we can't even know what it consists of. Therefore, many of us sin without realizing it and becoming "cursed by the law."

Tradition tells us that the curse of the law is being sent to hell when we are imperfect.

But if that was what Paul was getting at, it would make more sense for him to follow that up with something like, "so that we might be freed from sin and go to heaven." But he doesn't say anything like this. He also doesn't say that this brings us back into fellowship with God. Those are important topics, but not what Paul is addressing here.

What does Paul go on to say?

"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to all people through the Messiah, so that by faith we would receive the promise of the Spirit." -Galatians 3:14

This ties into God's promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 18:18, Genesis 26:4, etc.). Having a worldwide family of his people was always part of the Creator's plan, and the Messiah's death makes that possible. Not because certain ethnicities or nations weren't 'allowed' into God's family before - but because the curse of the law had cut off many people.

The Messiah bore the curse of the law so that the blessing given to Abraham would go to all people.

Why is Paul bringing up promises made to Abraham and Sarah when he's talking about the curse of the law?

Because according to N.T. Wright the "Biblical view of what was achieved through Jesus's death has to do with the restoration of the human vocation, and Israel's larger divine purpose for the world."

The curse of the law was that human idolatry kept YHWH's people from participating in his covenant!

When we participate in covenant with YHWH we get to bear his image to the world. It becomes our job to reflect God's love and truth to the world and to care for people and steward creation. The curse of the law was that humans were unable to do this properly because of idolatry.

Wright says, "Jesus's death got rid of the roadblock between the divine promises and the nations for whom they were intended. And it opened the way for the Spirit to be poured out to equip God's people for their tasks." This understanding fits with Romans 8:28 - "God works all things together for good with those who love him." We were created to impact the world by being in covenant with YHWH. 

This understanding means that the law was not a threatening moral code that cursed us. Human idolatry - the failure to worship only YHWH - kept God's people from participating in his covenant. Breaking the law was a sign that idolatry was happening. Biblical law is given as a guideline to help us to stay away from idolatry.

What does it mean when it says Jesus became a curse?

This can be a very confusing verse. Paul is not saying the Messiah is somehow a bad thing or connected to cursing. Rather, the Messiah bore the penalty for mankind not holding up their end of the covenant. When humans broke the covenant by worshipping gods that were not YHWH, they were not punished. Jesus died in their place, even though he had not broken the covenant.

In Galatians Paul is celebrating that the reconciling death of the Messiah sets people free to take up their true vocation, and be part of the divine plan for the world.

More posts like this:
God Offers Us a Covenant of Vocation - Not a Works Contract
What Romans 8:28 Actually Means
The Three Types of Law in the Bible