Galatians 3:13
Verse
Context
Christ Has Redeemed Us
12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ 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 tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Christ hath redeemed us - Εξηγορασεν· Hath bought us with a price; viz. his blood, or life. Being made a curse for us - Being made an atonement for our sins; for whatever was offered as an atonement for sin was considered as bearing the punishment due to sin, and the person who suffered for transgression was considered as bearing the curse in his body; therefore, in the same day in which a criminal was executed it was ordered that his body should be buried, that the land might not be polluted, because he that was hanged, which was the case with every heinous culprit, was considered accursed of God, Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23; hence the necessity of removing the accursed Thing out of sight.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Abrupt exclamation, as he breaks away impatiently from those who would involve us again in the curse of the law, by seeking justification in it, to "Christ," who "has redeemed us from its curse." The "us" refers primarily to the Jews, to whom the law principally appertained, in contrast to "the Gentiles" (Gal 3:14; compare Gal 4:3-4). But it is not restricted solely to the Jews, as ALFORD thinks; for these are the representative people of the world at large, and their "law" is the embodiment of what God requires of the whole world. The curse of its non-fulfilment affects the Gentiles through the Jews; for the law represents that righteousness which God requires of all, and which, since the Jews failed to fulfil, the Gentiles are equally unable to fulfil. Gal 3:10, "As many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse," refers plainly, not to the Jews only, but to all, even Gentiles (as the Galatians), who seek justification by the law. The Jews' law represents the universal law which condemned the Gentiles, though with less clear consciousness on their part (Rom. 2:1-29). The revelation of God's "wrath" by the law of conscience, in some degree prepared the Gentiles for appreciating redemption through Christ when revealed. The curse had to be removed from off the heathen, too, as well as the Jews, in order that the blessing, through Abraham, might flow to them. Accordingly, the "we," in "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit," plainly refers to both Jews and Gentiles. redeemed us--bought us off from our former bondage (Gal 4:5), and "from the curse" under which all lie who trust to the law and the works of the law for justification. The Gentile Galatians, by putting themselves under the law, were involving themselves in the curse from which Christ has redeemed the Jews primarily, and through them the Gentiles. The ransom price He paid was His own precious blood (Pe1 1:18-19; compare Mat 20:28; Act 20:28; Co1 6:20; Co1 7:23; Ti1 2:6; Pe2 2:1; Rev 5:9). being made--Greek, "having become." a curse for us--Having become what we were, in our behalf, "a curse," that we might cease to be a curse. Not merely accursed (in the concrete), but a curse in the abstract, bearing the universal curse of the whole human race. So Co2 5:21, "Sin for us," not sinful, but bearing the whole sin of our race, regarded as one vast aggregate of sin. See Note there. "Anathema" means "set apart to God," to His glory, but to the person's own destruction. "Curse," an execration. written-- (Deu 21:23). Christ's bearing the particular curse of hanging on the tree, is a sample of the "general" curse which He representatively bore. Not that the Jews put to death malefactors by hanging; but after having put them to death otherwise, in order to brand them with peculiar ignominy, they hung the bodies on a tree, and such malefactors were accursed by the law (compare Act 5:30; Act 10:39). God's providence ordered it so that to fulfil the prophecy of the curse and other prophecies, Jesus should be crucified, and so hang on the tree, though that death was not a Jewish mode of execution. The Jews accordingly, in contempt, call Him Tolvi, "the hanged one," and Christians, "worshippers of the hanged one"; and make it their great objection that He died the accursed death [TRYPHO, in Justin Martyr, p. 249] (Pe1 2:24). Hung between heaven and earth as though unworthy of either!
John Gill Bible Commentary
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,.... The Redeemer is Christ, the Son of God; who was appointed and called to this work by his Father, and which he himself agreed to; he was spoken of in prophecy under this character; he came as such, and has obtained eternal redemption, for which he was abundantly qualified; as man, he was a near kinsman, to whom the right of redemption belonged; and as God, he was able to accomplish it. The persons redeemed are "us", God's elect, both of Jews and Gentiles; a peculiar people, the people of Christ, whom the Father gave unto him; some out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation: the blessing obtained for them is redemption; a buying of them again, as the word signifies; they were his before by the Father's gift, and now he purchases them with the price of his own blood, and so delivers them "from the curse of the law"; its sentence of condemnation and death, and the execution of it; so that they shall never be hurt by it, he having delivered them from wrath to come, and redeemed from the second death, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. The manner in which this was done was by being made a curse for us; the sense of which is, not only that he was like an accursed person, looked upon as such by the men of that wicked generation, who hid and turned away their faces from as an abominable execrable person, calling him a sinner, a Samaritan, and a devil; but was even accursed by the law; becoming the surety of his people, he was made under the law, stood in their legal place and stead and having the sins of them all imputed to him, and answerable for them, the law finding them on him, charges him with them, and curses him for them; yea, he was treated as such by the justice of God, even by his Father, who spared him not, awoke the sword of justice against him, and gave him up into his hands; delivered him up to death, even the accursed death of the cross, whereby it appeared that he was made a curse: "made", by the will, counsel, and determination of God, and not without his own will and free consent; for he freely laid down his life, and gave himself, and made his soul an offering for sin: for it is written. Deu 21:23, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: it is in the Hebrew text, "he that is hanged": which is the very name the Jews (y) commonly call Christ by way of reproach; that is, "everyone that hangeth", as the apostle rightly renders it; which is always the sense of an indefinite phrase, unless a restriction is put: adding out of the same verse, "on the tree", by way of explanation; for which he cannot upon any account be found fault with, since it is manifest one hanged on a tree is meant, "who is accursed of God", or "the curse of God"; the curse of God, in vindicating his righteous law, was visibly on such a person; as it was on Christ, when he hung on the cross, in the room and stead of his people; for he was made a curse, not for himself, or for any sins of his own, but for us; in our room and stead, for our sins, and to make atonement for them: upon the whole, the Jew (z) has no reason to find fault as he does, either with the apostle's sense, or citation of this passage; for whether it be rendered "hangeth", or is "hanged", the sense is the same; and though the apostle leaves out the word "God", it is clear from what he says, that his meaning is, that the curse of God lighted upon Christ as the surety of his people, standing in their legal place and stead, in order to redeem them from the law and its curse; since he says, he was "made a curse" for them, which must be done by the Lord himself: and whereas the Jew objects, that it is impossible that anyone, even an Israelite, should be delivered from the curses of the law, but by the observance of it, this shows his ignorance of the law, which, in case of sin, requires a penalty, and which is its curse; and it is not future observance of the law will free from that: and as for the Gentiles, he says, to whom the law was not given, and who were never under it, they are free from the curses of it, without a redemption; but as this is to be, understood not of the ceremonial, but of the moral law, it is a mistake; the Gentiles are under the moral law, and being guilty of the violation of it, are liable to its curse; and cannot be delivered from it, but through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; by virtue of which, they have a part and portion in the blessings promised as follows. (y) Vid. Buxtorf. Lexic. Talmudie. col. 2596. (z) R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 89. p. 469.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:13-14 In contrast with those who depend on the law (3:10-12), those who look to God through faith in Christ freely receive God’s life and blessings. 3:13 rescued us (or ransomed us): Christ paid a ransom to buy back his people (see 4:4-5; 1 Pet 1:18-20). • “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”: Paul quotes Deut 21:23, in which executed criminals exposed for public shame were under God’s curse (see study note on Deut 21:22). Jesus, when he was crucified, took upon himself God’s curse that should have fallen upon all sinners (cp. 2 Cor 5:21).
Galatians 3:13
Christ Has Redeemed Us
12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ 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 tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Greatest Text in the Bible
By Paul Washer7.2K1:18:53ROM 3:26GAL 3:10GAL 3:13EPH 1:1EPH 2:12EPH 3:19In this sermon, the speaker discusses the choices we make in life and compares the idea of being confronted by a huge, intimidating man versus a small Martian. The speaker emphasizes that when faced with these choices, we should choose the man because it represents the infinite glories of God. The sermon then shifts to the topic of eternity and the speaker encourages Christians to start pursuing the glories of God now rather than waiting for eternity. The speaker concludes by highlighting the importance of having a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, which will lead to true happiness, contentment, and a sense of being loved.
Becoming the Christian You Are
By Major Ian Thomas6.5K1:09:44ChristianityGEN 3:15MAT 6:33ROM 3:20ROM 8:1GAL 3:13EPH 2:1In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the content of the gospel is Jesus Christ Himself. He explains that Jesus gave Himself for redemption and continues to give Himself for regeneration. The speaker also mentions a book called "The Mystery of Godness" that he has written, which explores this concept further. He uses a diagram to illustrate how God created humans with a body and a soul, consisting of mind, emotions, and will. The sermon references Genesis 3:15, where God promises to put enmity between Satan and humanity.
Redeemed From the Curse of the Law
By Paris Reidhead6.1K54:34Curse Of The LawRedemptionHealingEXO 12:13DEU 28:15PSA 105:37ISA 53:5GAL 3:13Paris Reidhead emphasizes the profound truth that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us. He recounts his personal journey of understanding healing and the significance of Christ's sacrifice, illustrating how the curse is not merely the penalty of death but a condition that leads us to repentance. Reidhead draws from biblical examples, particularly the Passover lamb, to show that through Christ's suffering, we are not only forgiven but also restored to wholeness. He encourages believers to grasp the fullness of their redemption and the implications of Christ's work for both their souls and bodies.
Blessings and Curses
By Jacob Prasch5.2K28:56BlessingsGAL 3:132TI 3:16TIT 1:5JAS 1:13In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the sufficiency of the word of God for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. He highlights that the Bible is inspired by God and profitable for equipping believers for every good work. The preacher warns against believing in deliverance, stating that it is not found in the Bible and is a human invention that can lead to punishment instead of deliverance. He also mentions that the apostles provide instructions on how to deal with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and that the epistles give guidance on various aspects of Christian life, with a particular emphasis on living in a fallen world and serving God faithfully.
Family Series Part 2 (Honor, the Gateway to Blessings)
By Paul Washer3.9K51:32FamilyPRO 22:6MAT 27:46GAL 3:13EPH 5:8EPH 6:1In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of fathers spending quality time with their children, particularly on weekends. He argues that all truth is revealed truth, meaning that even young children can understand and be transformed by the Gospel if the Spirit of God reveals it to them. The preacher shares a personal anecdote about a nine-year-old boy who approached him after a sermon, expressing his deep conviction of sin and desire for salvation. The sermon concludes with a call for parents to prioritize teaching their children about the Gospel and to lead culture out of darkness.
What Kind of Being Is Man - Part 2
By Paris Reidhead3.3K56:56Sinful NatureGEN 3:14DEU 28:1MAT 6:33ROM 3:23GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the concept of man and his relationship with God. He emphasizes that despite the hardships and suffering in the world, people still have a knowledge of God's existence and his role as the creator and judge. However, due to sin, man has become spiritually dead and separated from God. The speaker also discusses the three environments in which humans live - the physical atmosphere, the spiritual realm, and the social environment. He concludes by referencing Deuteronomy 28 and contrasting the blessings that come from obeying God's commandments with the consequences of disobedience.
Redeemed From the Law
By Harry Ironside2.6K05:31LawGEN 12:3JHN 3:16ACT 17:30ROM 3:24GAL 3:13EPH 1:31TI 2:4In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal testimony of coming to the Lord Jesus Christ as a sinner. He emphasizes the understanding of breaking God's law and being under condemnation. However, he found that Christ had given himself as a ransom for his soul, bringing joy and blessing to his heart. The speaker encourages the audience to trust in Christ and experience the deliverance from the curse of the law and the blessing of Abraham through faith. He also emphasizes the importance of repentance and acknowledging one's guilt before God.
Do You Have the Real Thing? (Compilation)
By Compilations2.1K34:33CompilationMAT 6:33LUK 13:3JHN 3:14ACT 1:14ROM 6:14GAL 3:13REV 20:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and the need to turn away from self-centeredness and please God instead. He urges the audience to run from false gospels that focus on success, prosperity, and self-improvement, as well as churches that glorify men rather than Christ. The preacher also highlights the sacrifice of Jesus, who took on the wrath of God and satisfied justice, allowing sinners to be justified. The sermon encourages listeners to seek a genuine and transformative relationship with God.
(The Truth Will Set You Free) Freedom From the Curse
By Zac Poonen2.0K58:01PSA 119:11PRO 18:21MAT 5:44MAT 7:12MAT 16:17GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of treating others with kindness and fairness, as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He warns against speaking evil about others and encourages forgiveness and generosity. The speaker also addresses the issue of exploitation and mistreatment of workers, emphasizing the need to pay them fairly. He highlights the significance of being serious students of God's Word and serving one's generation in the will of God. The sermon concludes with a reminder to release others and extend pardon in order to experience release from the cages of bitterness and unforgiveness.
Easter Conference 1979-01 Testimony and Message
By Aldy Fam Fanous1.9K34:24EasterPSA 34:6MAT 6:33MRK 16:20GAL 3:13COL 2:14HEB 1:1In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal journey of discovering the power and truth of God's word. Despite not having access to commentaries, he spent hours each day reading the Bible and found it to be the best commentary on itself. He also faced challenges within his family but turned to prayer for guidance. The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading and digging into the Word of God, and highlights the significance of Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation. He urges listeners to accept Christ as their Savior and consider the eternal consequences of their choices.
The Holiness of God - Part 1
By Art Katz1.8K52:36Holiness Of GodGEN 1:1PSA 11:7PSA 45:7PSA 99:4ISA 6:3ROM 1:18GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a profound episode in the history of Ben Israel, emphasizing the transformative power of encountering the truth. He highlights the importance of being open and teachable, willing to confront the painful lessons and failures in our lives. The speaker then delves into the significance of Jesus as the Redeemer, emphasizing that his sacrifice on the cross reveals the irreconcilable nature of sin and the depth of God's holiness. The sermon concludes with a reminder that understanding the cost of sin and the value of holiness is essential for truly worshiping and honoring God.
The Centrality of Christ
By Paul Washer1.8K1:28:05ChristDEU 29:201CO 6:8GAL 3:13In this sermon, the preacher uses vivid illustrations to convey the urgency and gravity of the message. He describes a scenario where a village is about to be engulfed by a breached dam, emphasizing that no one can escape the impending destruction. He then presents a hypothetical situation where a person seeks justice for their murdered family, but instead, the judge shows mercy and pardons the killer. The preacher challenges the listener to consider their response in such a situation and highlights the profound impact of the cross, where Jesus died and rose again, conquering sin and death. The sermon emphasizes the centrality of the cross and the need for a personal response to the sacrifice of Jesus.
The Blessing of the Spirit
By Zac Poonen1.5K58:51BlessingGEN 12:1HAB 2:4MAT 6:33JHN 15:5GAL 3:10GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of relying on God's help and acknowledging our own limitations. He shares personal experiences of feeling desperate and helpless when preaching, and how he depends on the Holy Spirit for guidance. The speaker encourages the audience to depend on the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life, not just preaching, and promises that God will bless them and make them a blessing to others. He contrasts the old covenant of "thou shalt" with the new covenant of "I will," highlighting God's grace and provision in Abraham's blessing. The speaker also challenges the audience to believe in the greater blessing of giving rather than receiving, even when it goes against human logic.
Redeemed From the Curse of the Law (Higher Quality)
By Paris Reidhead1.4K54:26CurseGEN 3:14DEU 28:15PSA 105:37GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker takes the audience back to ancient Egypt and tells the story of a young man who was injured while working on one of Pharaoh's projects. The man's leg was crushed, leaving him unable to walk. Additionally, he suffered from malnutrition and disease. As a result of a mortgage he had taken, every Monday morning, he would receive a box of snakes that he had to fight off. The speaker uses this story to illustrate the concept of a mortgage and its implications, drawing parallels to the spiritual realm.
Surprises at the Birth of Christ
By William MacDonald1.4K25:16Birth Of ChristPSA 41:9ISA 60:6ISA 66:20MAT 26:56LUK 22:44JHN 17:17GAL 3:13In this sermon, the preacher discusses the possibility of the preaching of the word of God happening today. He emphasizes that for this to occur, a person must genuinely desire to know the truth, as God will reveal it to them. The preacher highlights that no one is without excuse in the world, as God has revealed himself through creation and conscience. If individuals live up to the light they have been given, God will ensure they receive the gospel light. The sermon also mentions the story of the wise men who presented gifts to Jesus, emphasizing the bitterness Jesus experienced in his life and the redemption he offers to those who come to him in faith. The preacher concludes by emphasizing that salvation is still available to all who repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior.
Healing
By Paris Reidhead1.4K48:18HealingDEU 28:1DEU 28:15MAT 6:33ROM 8:32GAL 3:13In this sermon, the preacher takes the audience back to a home in Israel where a young man, who was once a strong worker, is now a helpless cripple. The young man witnesses the preparation of a lamb for a meal and sees the crimson stain on the doorpost, which signifies protection from the angel of death. As he eats the meal, he notices that his withered foot moves and his knee bends, which haven't happened in three years. The preacher emphasizes the power of God's redemption and how it can bring healing and restoration to even the most hopeless situations.
The Wilderness
By Milton Green1.3K05:24ROM 4:151CO 3:52CO 3:72CO 3:9GAL 3:13EPH 3:4HEB 3:4In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God's law and loving the Lord. They explain that practicing sins breaks God's law and gives ground to the powers of darkness. The speaker references various Bible verses, such as Romans 4:15, Galatians 3:13, and 2 Corinthians 3:7 and 3:9, to support their points about the curse, wrath, condemnation, and death that result from not following God's law. They also discuss the concept of possessing the land and becoming mature and complete in Christ, and highlight the role of apostles, pastors, and teachers in leading and encouraging believers.
Faithfulness of God
By Major Ian Thomas1.2K1:03:24FaithfulnessGEN 3:15EXO 3:2MAT 6:33GAL 3:8GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker reflects on his own experience of burning out and being left as a heap of ashes. He then discusses the story of Moses and the burning bush as a lesson in understanding God's presence and power. The speaker emphasizes that it is not the size of the bush that matters, but rather whether God is in it. He also highlights the importance of waiting on God's timing and having audacious expectations. The sermon concludes with a reminder of Moses' discovery and the desire to be like a burning bush that continues to burn for God.
Church - Part 1
By Milton Green1.2K03:41MAT 6:33ROM 4:151CO 3:52CO 3:72CO 3:9GAL 3:13EPH 6:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a life that is aligned with the love of the Lord and His commandments. He explains that practicing sins such as unforgiveness, envy, worry, and greed goes against God's law and opens the door for the powers of darkness to have influence. The preacher highlights that the law brings condemnation and death, but through the gospel, believers can possess the land and overcome these sins. He warns that failing to possess the land and falling into sin will result in negative consequences. The preacher encourages the audience to use their weapons, which are mighty in God, to tear down strongholds and cast down thoughts that go against the Word of God.
Coming to the Light or God's Judgment Is on You
By Milton Green1.2K01:22MAT 22:39ROM 8:1GAL 3:13GAL 5:18GAL 5:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being led by the Spirit of God. He explains that when we are led by the Spirit, we are no longer under the law, judgment, wrath, or curse of God. The preacher highlights that Jesus became a curse for those who are led by the Spirit of God, not for those who simply believe in Him. He also references Romans 8:2, which states that the spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the power of the Spirit of God in overcoming sin and living a godly life.
Paul's Allegory of the Covenants
By Peter Masters1.2K47:03GAL 1:6GAL 2:16GAL 3:10GAL 3:13GAL 4:12GAL 4:22GAL 5:4GAL 6:8GAL 6:14This sermon delves into the allegory of the two covenants as explained by the Apostle Paul in Galatians. It contrasts the covenant of works, which relies on human effort and leads to bondage, with the covenant of grace, based on God's promise and salvation through faith in Christ. The narrative of Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac, is used to illustrate this spiritual truth, emphasizing the superiority of the covenant of grace. The sermon warns against false teachings that promote salvation through works rather than grace, highlighting the need to trust in Christ alone for salvation.
The Law and Faith (Compilation)
By Compilations1.1K09:06CompilationMAT 23:23MRK 7:6MRK 7:13ROM 10:6GAL 1:8GAL 3:13JAS 2:8In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of love as the purpose of God's commandments. He explains that through embracing Christ and the law of love, believers are renewed and no longer live for themselves but for Christ. The preacher also highlights that the commandments containing ordinances, such as "do not taste, do not touch, do not handle," have no profit against the desires of the flesh. Instead, the law of love, which is the fulfillment of the law, is what truly brings profit. The sermon concludes by cautioning against mere religious practices and legalism, emphasizing the righteousness that comes from faith rather than the law.
Three Results of Paul's Commission
By Rolfe Barnard1.1K55:37CommissionMAT 7:24MAT 16:24ACT 9:6ROM 8:14GAL 1:11GAL 3:132PE 1:5In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being receptive to the message of the Holy Spirit. He observes that some people in the congregation seem disengaged and focused on worldly matters rather than spiritual ones. The preacher urges the listeners to be in the Spirit and not be distracted by gossip or frivolous conversations. He warns that if they do not feed their souls with the word of God, they will lose the impact of the message they have heard. The preacher also highlights the challenges of staying focused on God in a fast-paced and interconnected world, but emphasizes the need to prioritize the things of God to maintain a burning fire of faith.
Be Filled With the Holy Spirit - 5
By Zacharias Tanee Fomum9511:10:08Holy SpiritGEN 2:8DEU 28:7DEU 28:10DEU 28:13DEU 28:23GAL 3:13In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of success and how it relates to time. They explain that success is often measured by personal growth and opportunities, and that it increases over time. The speaker also talks about the idea of curses and how they can vary in intensity. They emphasize the importance of not making excuses for sin and taking responsibility for our actions. The sermon also references biblical passages, such as Deuteronomy 28, which speaks about the blessings that come from following God's commandments.
The Lost Gospel by Paul Washer (Compilation)
By Compilations90710:30CompilationDEU 27:26MRK 12:30LUK 7:47ROM 3:23ROM 8:12CO 5:21GAL 3:13In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of speaking about sin in order to understand the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He argues that without acknowledging our sinful nature, we cannot fully appreciate the forgiveness and love of God. The preacher highlights the concept of imputed guilt, explaining that Jesus took on the sins of his people and was treated as guilty by God the Father. He emphasizes the radical depravity of the human heart and the need for redemption through Christ, who bore the curse of the law on the cross.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Christ hath redeemed us - Εξηγορασεν· Hath bought us with a price; viz. his blood, or life. Being made a curse for us - Being made an atonement for our sins; for whatever was offered as an atonement for sin was considered as bearing the punishment due to sin, and the person who suffered for transgression was considered as bearing the curse in his body; therefore, in the same day in which a criminal was executed it was ordered that his body should be buried, that the land might not be polluted, because he that was hanged, which was the case with every heinous culprit, was considered accursed of God, Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23; hence the necessity of removing the accursed Thing out of sight.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Abrupt exclamation, as he breaks away impatiently from those who would involve us again in the curse of the law, by seeking justification in it, to "Christ," who "has redeemed us from its curse." The "us" refers primarily to the Jews, to whom the law principally appertained, in contrast to "the Gentiles" (Gal 3:14; compare Gal 4:3-4). But it is not restricted solely to the Jews, as ALFORD thinks; for these are the representative people of the world at large, and their "law" is the embodiment of what God requires of the whole world. The curse of its non-fulfilment affects the Gentiles through the Jews; for the law represents that righteousness which God requires of all, and which, since the Jews failed to fulfil, the Gentiles are equally unable to fulfil. Gal 3:10, "As many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse," refers plainly, not to the Jews only, but to all, even Gentiles (as the Galatians), who seek justification by the law. The Jews' law represents the universal law which condemned the Gentiles, though with less clear consciousness on their part (Rom. 2:1-29). The revelation of God's "wrath" by the law of conscience, in some degree prepared the Gentiles for appreciating redemption through Christ when revealed. The curse had to be removed from off the heathen, too, as well as the Jews, in order that the blessing, through Abraham, might flow to them. Accordingly, the "we," in "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit," plainly refers to both Jews and Gentiles. redeemed us--bought us off from our former bondage (Gal 4:5), and "from the curse" under which all lie who trust to the law and the works of the law for justification. The Gentile Galatians, by putting themselves under the law, were involving themselves in the curse from which Christ has redeemed the Jews primarily, and through them the Gentiles. The ransom price He paid was His own precious blood (Pe1 1:18-19; compare Mat 20:28; Act 20:28; Co1 6:20; Co1 7:23; Ti1 2:6; Pe2 2:1; Rev 5:9). being made--Greek, "having become." a curse for us--Having become what we were, in our behalf, "a curse," that we might cease to be a curse. Not merely accursed (in the concrete), but a curse in the abstract, bearing the universal curse of the whole human race. So Co2 5:21, "Sin for us," not sinful, but bearing the whole sin of our race, regarded as one vast aggregate of sin. See Note there. "Anathema" means "set apart to God," to His glory, but to the person's own destruction. "Curse," an execration. written-- (Deu 21:23). Christ's bearing the particular curse of hanging on the tree, is a sample of the "general" curse which He representatively bore. Not that the Jews put to death malefactors by hanging; but after having put them to death otherwise, in order to brand them with peculiar ignominy, they hung the bodies on a tree, and such malefactors were accursed by the law (compare Act 5:30; Act 10:39). God's providence ordered it so that to fulfil the prophecy of the curse and other prophecies, Jesus should be crucified, and so hang on the tree, though that death was not a Jewish mode of execution. The Jews accordingly, in contempt, call Him Tolvi, "the hanged one," and Christians, "worshippers of the hanged one"; and make it their great objection that He died the accursed death [TRYPHO, in Justin Martyr, p. 249] (Pe1 2:24). Hung between heaven and earth as though unworthy of either!
John Gill Bible Commentary
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,.... The Redeemer is Christ, the Son of God; who was appointed and called to this work by his Father, and which he himself agreed to; he was spoken of in prophecy under this character; he came as such, and has obtained eternal redemption, for which he was abundantly qualified; as man, he was a near kinsman, to whom the right of redemption belonged; and as God, he was able to accomplish it. The persons redeemed are "us", God's elect, both of Jews and Gentiles; a peculiar people, the people of Christ, whom the Father gave unto him; some out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation: the blessing obtained for them is redemption; a buying of them again, as the word signifies; they were his before by the Father's gift, and now he purchases them with the price of his own blood, and so delivers them "from the curse of the law"; its sentence of condemnation and death, and the execution of it; so that they shall never be hurt by it, he having delivered them from wrath to come, and redeemed from the second death, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. The manner in which this was done was by being made a curse for us; the sense of which is, not only that he was like an accursed person, looked upon as such by the men of that wicked generation, who hid and turned away their faces from as an abominable execrable person, calling him a sinner, a Samaritan, and a devil; but was even accursed by the law; becoming the surety of his people, he was made under the law, stood in their legal place and stead and having the sins of them all imputed to him, and answerable for them, the law finding them on him, charges him with them, and curses him for them; yea, he was treated as such by the justice of God, even by his Father, who spared him not, awoke the sword of justice against him, and gave him up into his hands; delivered him up to death, even the accursed death of the cross, whereby it appeared that he was made a curse: "made", by the will, counsel, and determination of God, and not without his own will and free consent; for he freely laid down his life, and gave himself, and made his soul an offering for sin: for it is written. Deu 21:23, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: it is in the Hebrew text, "he that is hanged": which is the very name the Jews (y) commonly call Christ by way of reproach; that is, "everyone that hangeth", as the apostle rightly renders it; which is always the sense of an indefinite phrase, unless a restriction is put: adding out of the same verse, "on the tree", by way of explanation; for which he cannot upon any account be found fault with, since it is manifest one hanged on a tree is meant, "who is accursed of God", or "the curse of God"; the curse of God, in vindicating his righteous law, was visibly on such a person; as it was on Christ, when he hung on the cross, in the room and stead of his people; for he was made a curse, not for himself, or for any sins of his own, but for us; in our room and stead, for our sins, and to make atonement for them: upon the whole, the Jew (z) has no reason to find fault as he does, either with the apostle's sense, or citation of this passage; for whether it be rendered "hangeth", or is "hanged", the sense is the same; and though the apostle leaves out the word "God", it is clear from what he says, that his meaning is, that the curse of God lighted upon Christ as the surety of his people, standing in their legal place and stead, in order to redeem them from the law and its curse; since he says, he was "made a curse" for them, which must be done by the Lord himself: and whereas the Jew objects, that it is impossible that anyone, even an Israelite, should be delivered from the curses of the law, but by the observance of it, this shows his ignorance of the law, which, in case of sin, requires a penalty, and which is its curse; and it is not future observance of the law will free from that: and as for the Gentiles, he says, to whom the law was not given, and who were never under it, they are free from the curses of it, without a redemption; but as this is to be, understood not of the ceremonial, but of the moral law, it is a mistake; the Gentiles are under the moral law, and being guilty of the violation of it, are liable to its curse; and cannot be delivered from it, but through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; by virtue of which, they have a part and portion in the blessings promised as follows. (y) Vid. Buxtorf. Lexic. Talmudie. col. 2596. (z) R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 89. p. 469.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:13-14 In contrast with those who depend on the law (3:10-12), those who look to God through faith in Christ freely receive God’s life and blessings. 3:13 rescued us (or ransomed us): Christ paid a ransom to buy back his people (see 4:4-5; 1 Pet 1:18-20). • “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”: Paul quotes Deut 21:23, in which executed criminals exposed for public shame were under God’s curse (see study note on Deut 21:22). Jesus, when he was crucified, took upon himself God’s curse that should have fallen upon all sinners (cp. 2 Cor 5:21).