Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Wherefore then serveth the law? As it is of no avail for justification, is it either useless, or contrary to the covenant of God?
Added - to the original covenant of promise; not as a codicil, but to show man's need: not inconsistent with Galatians 3:15, "No man ... addeth thereto;" for there the kind of addition meant, and therefore denied, is one that would add new conditions inconsistent with the grace of the covenant of promise. The law, though misunderstood by Judaizers as doing so, was really added for a different purpose-namely, 'because of х ton (G3588) parabaseoon (G3847) charin (G5485), "for the sake of"] the transgressions of it;' i:e., to bring them out into clearer view (Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 5:13; Romans 7:7-9); to make men more conscious of their sins, as being transgressions of the law; so to make them long for the promised Saviour (cf. Galatians 3:23-24). Not 'to check transgressions,' for the law rather stimulates the corrupt heart to disobey it (Romans 7:13).
Till the seed - during the period up to the time when [achris hou elthe] the seed came. The law was a preparatory dispensation [Romans 5:20; pareiseelthen (G3922), 'the law came in parenthetically'] intervening between the promise and its fulfillment in Christ.
Come - cf. "faith came," Galatians 3:23.
The promise (Romans 4:21).
Ordained, х diatageis (G1299)] - 'established.'
By (through) angels - as its mediate ministers. God delegated the law to angels as something rather alien to Him and severe (Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2-3: cf. Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17). He reserved "the promise" to Himself, dispensing it after His own goodness.
In the hand [by the ministry; Hebrew, bªyad (H3027)]
Of a mediator - namely, Moses. Deuteronomy 5:5, "I stood between the Lord and you." Hence, the phrase, "By the hand of Moses." In giving the law, the "angels" represented God; Moses, as mediator, represented the people: a double mediation; whereas in the promise there was none. Four differences:
(1) The law only convicted of transgressions; the promise was of their removal.
(2) The law was parenthetical and temporary; the Promised Seed permanently superseded it. The law had angels
(3) and Moses
(4) as its mediators.