Law and Promise
P. J. Gloag, D. D., T. Manton. Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. I. The law was restricted and conditional — "added because of transgression": the promise was absolute and unconditional. II. The law was temporary and provisional — "until the seed should come": the promise was permanent and eternal. III. The law was communicated indirectly — "by angels": the promise was directly given by God (Hebrews 2:2, 3). IV. The law was received from God through "a mediator": the promise was received by Abraham in person. (P. J. Gloag, D. D.)The covenant of grace is called "the promise," because God hath promised both the reward and the condition. And so — I. IT DIFFERS FROM HUMAN COVENANTS. Among men each party undertaketh for and looketh after his own part of the engagement; but here the duties required of us are undertaken by Him that, requireth them. No man filleth his neighbour's hand with anything to pay his rent to him, or enableth him to do what he hath covenanted to do; but God filleth our heart with a stock of habitual grace, with actual influences to draw forth habits into act (Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Jeremiah 32:39, 40). II. IT DIFFERS FROM THE COVENANT OF WORKS. That had more of a law and less of a promise: there was a promise of reward to the obeyer but none of obedience. There man was to keep the covenant; here the covenant keepeth us (Jeremiah 32:40). God undertaketh for both parties, and worketh in His people all that is required of them. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. WEB: For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.