The Law of God Miscellanies (18)

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3.24, 25

Reflect and discuss.
1.  What is the role of a tutor? How do you know when a tutor has done his job?

2.  What is the responsibility of one who is assigned to a tutor? How do you know when that person has learned?

Think about it.
The function of a tutor is to instruct and prepare. Those who submit to a tutor are expected to learn. The tutor and the learner work together to prepare the learner for the next phase of life.

The Law is our tutor to bring us to Christ. The Law brings us to Christ in two ways. First, it illuminates the sin in our hearts. It shows us that we do not love God as He requires, and that we do not love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Thus the Law condemns us and exposes us as under wrath, in need of someone to deliver us from what we deserve before God. 

Second, the Law portrays the beauty of holiness, justice, and love, which describe God and are required by God. The Law teaches us what to strive for in the way of holiness, and that we are insufficient in ourselves to attain that standard. 

So the Law points us to Jesus, Who became a curse for us, even as He fulfilled all the righteousness God requires. The Law points us to righteousness; Jesus is righteousness.

The Law thus teaches and prepares us for Jesus. Coming to Him, we learn true righteousness by focusing on Him and living according to His Word. Jesus teaches us to learn of Him (Eph. 4.17-24). Learning of Him involves following Him in the way of His commandments and all His Word, beginning with that same Law which taught us to look to Jesus in the first place (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

This being so, in what sense are we “no longer under a tutor”? We are no longer under a tutor because we now belong to the Master, and He has given us His Spirit to lead us into all truth and transform us into His image (Jn. 14.12-14; 16.8-14; 2 Cor. 3.12-18). We are no longer under a tutor in that we are now called to make disciples and to teach the things of God to others (Col. 3.16). The Law of God is not all the truth of God. It remains an essential part of God’s truth, but it can only be rightly understood as the Spirit leads us into all truth, so that in the light of all the truth of God, each part of His truth conforms us increasingly to the image of our Master.

The Law is our tutor, and as those called to make disciples, we teach the Law by our lives and words, and thus both know and point others to Jesus.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  If you were assigned to a tutor to teach you basic mathematics – adding, subtraction, division, and multiplication – would you lay aside what that tutor taught you as you moved on to algebra, geometry, and physics? Explain. How does this illustrate the Law’s role as a tutor in bringing us to Christ?

2.  In your calling to make disciples – by your testimony and witness and with your fellow believers – what role should you assign to the Law of God?

3.  Why do we need all the rest of Scripture, and the Holy Spirit, to help us understand the Law and how it leads us to Jesus?

“Now it was necessary that the law be given, as it fulfilled our need of a custodian. And it freed us from our previous impiety, taught us knowledge of God and then brought us to Christ the Lord as though to some wise teacher, so that we might be instructed by him in perfect learning and acquire the righteousness that is through faith.” Theodoret of Cyr (393-466 AD)

Lord, let me not forget what my tutor has taught me as I strain toward Jesus; instead, let me…

Pray Psalm 40.5-8.
Recount God’s wonderful saving works to you, and commit yourself to Him as verses 6-8 indicate.

Psalm 40.4-8 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
Lord, Your worth who can declare?  None with You can e’er compare.

Off’rings You do not require – open now my ears, O Lord – 
What from me do You desire?  Firm delight to do Your Word.
Take my life in ev’ry part; write Your Law upon my heart.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.