Reader question about Galatians 3:10

 READER QUESTION:

I have a question on Gal. 3:10. My grandson insists that this verse means that if we keep His commandments we are under a curse. And how do I explain the comment, "for those that are servants of Torah are still under a curse.” Please help!

OUR RESPONSE:

Those are great questions, and the problem is that Paul was very hard to understand. Even Peter said that he would be (2 Peter 3:15-18).

First, let's take a look at who Paul was writing to ... The congregations in Galatia (Galatians 1:2). Why was he writing to them? Because they had already fallen away from faith in the Messiah and had been confused and challenged by men who did not believe in the Messiah (1:6-7). What did Paul say about these teachers?

He said they " are men who agitated you and desired to pervert the Good News of Mashiyach" (1:7), and that these men "preach outside from what was preached to you, let them be cursed. ... Whichever man preaches to you outside of what you have received, let him be accursed" (1:8-9).

Now, read Galatians 3 with this in mind - but first, understand that Torah says: "A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice" (Deuteronomy 27:26).

In Galatians 3, Paul was teaching (again) that righteousness does not come through "works"; rather, that righteousness is through faith, and faith is demonstrated by works (Galatians 3:2-6). Then, referring to Deuteronomy 27:26, Paul said in 3:10 "For those who are servants of Torah are still under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not act 35 on all that is written in this book of Torah.”

Paul went on through the rest of Galatians 3 to explain that he was talking about those very men whom he mentioned back in Galatians 1:7, that those men were cursed because they taught Torah, but they DID NOT LIVE BY TORAH.

Read the way Paul puts it in Romans 2: "13. For not the hearers of Torah are righteous before Elohim; but the doers of Torah are being made righteous. 14. For if Gentiles who have not Torah will, by their nature, do the things of Torah; they, while without Torah, become a Torah to themselves.

15. Additionally, they show the work of Torah as it is inscribed on their hearts; and their conscience bears testimony to them, their own reflections rebuking or vindicating one another" (Romans 2:13-15). But about the Torah-teachers he says:

"17. But if you who are called a Jew, and rely yourself on Torah and glory in Elohim, 18. (And further that you think) that you know His good pleasure and discern obligations because you are instructed in Torah; 19. And (that Elohim) has confidence in yourself, that you are a guide to the blind, and a light to them who are in darkness, 20. And an instructor of those lacking knowledge, and a preceptor to the young; and you have the appearance of knowledge and of verity in Torah (then what do you all say to the following):

21. You therefore, who teach others, teach you not yourself? And you who teach that men must not steal, do you steal? 22. And you who say, “Men must not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? And you who condemn idols, do you plunder the sanctuary? 23. And you who glory in Torah, don’t you, by acting contrary to Torah, insult Elohim himself? (Romans 2:17-23).

SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT: When Paul wrote in Galatians 3:10 that those who are servants of Torah [that is, they demand serving Torah, not living by Torah] are still under a curse because they, themselves don't live by Torah through as servants to YHWH - which is exactly as Torah teaches (refer back to Deuteronomy 27:26).