When I’m in “project mode,” I can become so focused on getting things done that I lose my interpersonal awareness. I know I’m not alone. Our hearts and minds easily fixate on concrete, urgent tasks, sometimes to the detriment of our relationships.

In Galatians 3:10–14, Paul continues to build his case for a similar spiritual distinction. Once again, he urges the Galatians not to concentrate or rely on their concrete “works of the law,” which only serve to condemn (“curse”) them (v. 10). Trying to develop intimacy with God through the works of the Law would require absolute perfection, which is, of course, impossible. Ironically, Paul quotes the Law itself (Deut. 27:26) to support his argument. “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (v. 10).

Instead, Paul reiterates, the way of faith has superseded the way of the Law (v. 11). The Law alone is incapable of providing justification from sin. Only a genuine faith will result in a right standing with God. Paul quotes the Old Testament again as evidence: “The righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Hab. 2:4). Faith is a personal and active trust in God to provide a way of redemption that the Law cannot provide and the believer could never accomplish alone.

But the object of this faith is key, and the only effectual object is Jesus Christ. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (v. 13). Jesus did not deserve to be cursed. As the perfect and innocent Son of God, Jesus Christ absorbed the cursedness of Jews and Gentiles alike, making possible the universal blessing of Abraham and the reception of the Spirit (v. 14).

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