GALATIANS 3:11-14 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In The Sight; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of) Derivation: a primary preposition; The Greek word used here is παρά para. Strong's G3844.
Evident; clear, manifest, evident. Properly signifying visible, clear to the mind. The opposite of uncertain or unclear. The Greek word used here is δῆλος dēlos. Vine's (def A1), Strong's G1212
Moving to Verse 12.
Galatians 3:12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
NSB* - Paul refers to** Habakkuk 2:4 to demonstrate that a person can only be justified through faith. He cites Leviticus 18:5 to prove that keeping the law to gain salvation is utterly incompatible with faith.
Cross References: Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
Leviticus 18:5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
Romans 4:4-5 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Moving to Verse 13.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
NSB* - Paul knew that many of his readers would perceive that they were actually under the curse of the law (see v. 10; Deuteronomy 27:26). For them as for us it is incredibly comforting to know that Christ became the curse for us on the Cross (see Deuteronomy 21:23).
Note Reference - Deuteronomy 27:26 ‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ”
Redeemed; a strengthened form of agorazo, to buy", denotes "to buy out" (ex for ek), especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom. It is used metaphorically in Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5, of the deliverance by Christ of Christian Jews from the Law and its curse; what is said of lutron (RANSOM, No. 1) is true of this verb and of agorazo, as to the Death of Christ, that Scripture does not say to whom the price was paid; the various suggestions made are purely speculative; The Greek word is ἐξαγοράζω exagorazo. Vines (def A-1a), Strong's G1805.
Curse; kata, "down," intensive, and No. 1, denotes an "execration, imprecation, curse," uttered out of malevolence, James 3:10; 2 Peter 2:14; or pronounced by God in His righteous judgment, as upon a land doomed to barrenness, Hebrews 6:8; upon those who seek for justification by obedience, in part or completely, to the Law, Galatians 3:10, Galatians 3:13; in this 13th verse it is used concretely of Christ, as having "become a curse" for us, i.e., by voluntarily undergoing on the Cross the appointed penalty of the "curse." He thus was identified, on our behalf, with the doom of sin. The Greek word is κατάρα katara. Vines (def A-2), Strong's G2671
Definition References - James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
2 Peter 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
Hebrews 6:8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Hangs On A Tree; Hang is - 1) to hang up, suspend 2) to be suspended, to hang 2a) used of one hanging on a cross 2b) used of the Law and the Prophets, they is summed up or hanging on two precepts. The Greek word for "hang" is κρεμάννυμι kremannumi. Strong's G2910.
Then when we get to the tree, Dodson denotes a staff, cross, anything made of wood anything made of wood, a piece of wood, a club, staff; the trunk of a tree, used to support the cross-bar of a cross in crucifixion. So we can see this didn't always mean an actual tree, it had various uses. The Greek word for tree is ξύλον xulon. Strong's G3586.
Deuteronomy 21:23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
Moving to Verse 14.
Galatians 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Receive; Dobson denotes I receive, take (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. The Greek word is lambanō λαμβάνω. Strong's G2983
Promise Of The Spirit; primarily a law term, denoting a summons" (epi, "upon," angello, "to proclaim, announce"), also meant "an undertaking to do or give something, a promise." Except in Acts 23:21 it is used only of the "promises" of God. It frequently stands for the thing "promised," and so signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation; thus, in Galatians 3:14, "the promise of the Spirit" denotes "the promised Spirit:" The Greek word is ἐπαγγελία epangelia. Vine's (def A1), Strong's G1860.
Takeaway - Christ became the curse for us on the cross because the law cannot justify us. Keeping the law would not give us salvation. Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
*NSB = Nelson Study Bible
** The NSB notes say Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4, but he's not directly quoting it, he's just referring to it.
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