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Misunderstood Verses of the New Testament - Week 8

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In this week's edition of Misunderstood Verses of the New Testament we are going to briefly cover the questions "What does it mean for Christ to be the end of the law for righteousness?" from Romans 10 and "How are we no longer under a tutor?" as mentioned in Galatians 3.

Let us know your thoughts on this week's posting and the series in general. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below!

Romans 10:4
Problem: 
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Many use this verse to say that Paul is saying that Christ did away with the Law, saying that Yeshua brought it to an end, thus saying He is the end of the Law.  However, if this is the case, then Paul himself is contradicting the very words of Christ in Matthew 5:17-18 where Yeshua tells us he did not come to abolish (bring an end to, get rid of) the law.

Solution:  Here in verse 4, Paul is simply saying that Christ is the end of the law similar to the end zone of a football field, meaning He is the goal of the law. He is the living example of that which we strive for. Just like Revelation is the end of the Bible, Christ is the end of the law. And just as Revelation didn't do away with all of the rest of Scripture, Christ didn’t do away with the Law.  The Greek for "end" is Telos. It can also carry the meaning of end by way of being the goal.  For more on this topic, please see our teaching The Prayer of Salvation

Galatians 3:25
Problem:  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Many assume he is referring to the law of Moses here.

Solution:  Romans 6:14-15 - For sin (breaking the law - 1 john 3:4) shall not be your master , because you are not under law (the curse), but under grace. What then? Shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under law (the curse) but under grace? By no means!

The tutor came after the law as a result of our disobedience to the law.  Thus the curse of the law (the tutor, the penalty of death) came because of disobedience to the law (of Moses). So it is the curse of the law, as mentioned in verse 13, that we are no longer under as mentioned in verse 25.  The focus of tutor was to point us to Christ who would deliver us from it.  Remember, Christ IS the Word. The law, Torah, is a part of the Word. He didn't come to do away with part of Himself. He came to do away with our disobedience.  He's saying "just because you are not under the penalty breaking the law, should you abuse the gift of grace and break the law anyway? By no means!  For more on this topic please see our teaching Why Then the Law? (Galatians 3:19-29).