Paul's Negative Remarks on the Law

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Paul claims that the law puts men into bondage several times in his letter to the church in Galatia.^{(Galatians 2:4, 4:3, 9, 24, 25, 5:1.)}

However, if the law put us into bondage, then why did God say, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.^{Exodus 20:2 cf. Exodus 6:6, 13:3, 14, Deuteronomy 5:6, 6:12, 8:14, 13:5, 10.}

Why would God say that and have the prophets and scribes repeat it so often only to put his people into bondage with the law? Was this some trick of the Lord to enslave his people?

No, the law was not and is not bondage. Paul is wrong. Jesus, who fulfilled the law, said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.^{Matthew 11:28-30}

That is not bondage. That is liberation.

Paul also calls the law a curse. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.^{Galatians 3:13} Paul is referencing Deuteronomy here. His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.^{Deuteronomy 21:23}

Paul's argument here is illogical. He says that the law is a curse, then he says that Jesus became a curse. Thus, Jesus's death redeemed them from the curse of the law.

Assuming that Paul's argument is logical and ignoring the fact that Jesus said no such thing. Let us see what the law had to say about it being a curse, Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.^{Deuteronomy 11:26-28} So the law is a blessing if you follow it, but a curse if you do not. Now we know why Paul called it a curse, because he did not want to follow it.

Paul also calls the law 'the ministry of death.' But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away.^{2nd Corinthians 3:7}

God begs to differ, saying that it will prolong life on earth. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.^{Deuteronomy 4:40}

Jesus instructed people to follow the commandments to have eternal life. He is not putting them into bondage, nor cursing them, but giving them eternal life. And when he [Jesus] was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.^{Mark 10:17-19}

Value of this Evidence

This is decent evidence against Paul. A real apostle would not try to be lawless nor blaspheme the law, but be just and charitable, loving God and others foremost among all things.

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