Galatians 3:19 What, then, was the purpose of the law?

Romans 5:20 The Law entered that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then?  Is the law sin?  Certainly not!  On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.  For I would not have know covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Paul was a devout Rabbi before his conversion to Christ Jesus.  He had a powerful understanding of the Old Testament, or the Torah, as Jews call it.  I am struck by Paul’s incredible ability to use the Scriptures to explain practical aspects of Christianity.  I wish that I could understand Judaism more, because it would help me understand the Bible more.  As I was reading Galatians 3 this morning, I remembered what Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein said as quoted by Diana Hagee in her book, The King’s Daughter. I thought it offered an interesting perspective on the Law, so I will share it with you:

Judaism understands the love of God as the willingness to accept upon oneself the “yoke of the kingdom of God.”  For when seen from within, this yoke or burden is one that the observant Jew accepts willingly, out of abiding love and immeasurable joy.  He regards the Torah and its laws as God’s precious gift to Israel, as the concrete manifestation of His goodness and love for His people.  It gives form to his quest for moral living.  The observant Jew regards the Law as a way of life linking him with the Divine, a vehicle enabling him to fulfill God’s will, and a means of bringing him ever closer to the spiritual reaml.  Instead of bondage the Law represents true freedom.  Rather than a burden, it is the Jew’s greatest delight.

 Joy Oaks