A “schoolmaster” (Gal 3:24, Greek: paidagogos) refers to a teacher. In the New Testament, a teacher-student relationship was a master-slave relationship where the student listened and obeyed his teacher. The student realised his ignorance and learnt from his teacher. We too must recognise that we are ignorant students.

The Law shows us how sinful we are.

The false teachers taught that obeying the Law was required for salvation. There is nothing worse than twisting God’s Word, even a little twist. The evolutionists teach a falsehood, but they did not use God's Word. What is worse is when the neo-evangelicals twisted the Word of God and came up with theistic evolution.

The Law points us to salvation in Jesus Christ.

For a sinner who does not know the gospel at all, God will use creation to judge him, thus he is “without excuse” (Rom 1:20). Even without the Law, we are condemned already because we are all born sinners. We need the Law to help us realise that we are sinners. Thus, when we share the gospel with unbelievers who are ignorant that they are sinners against God, we need to use the Ten Commandments. The Law, like a “schoolmaster,” will teach them that they have sinned against God. The Ten Commandments will offend unbelievers, but they must know that they are sinners and have offended God. Then will they realise that they need a Saviour, the Lord Jesus who alone can cleanse them of all their sins. Without Christ as our Saviour, we cannot stand before God justified even if we obey the Law and live a holy life because our sins have not been wiped away.

The Result of the Law

Once we completely surrender ourselves to Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us and we have eternal life in Christ. The purpose of the “schoolmaster” is fulfilled for it has led us to realise that we are sinners in need of a Saviour. We have believed and received Jesus by faith and are no longer under the condemnatory power of the Law. With Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we now stand before God justified with the righteousness of Christ. Now we have this permanent and unchangeable relationship with God. As believers, we may not be able to keep the Ten Commandments perfectly all the time, but they are “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps 119:105). The Ten Commandments are no longer a “schoolmaster” to us, but they show us believers how we are to live our life.

Have you truly acknowledged that you are a sinner in need of salvation through Jesus Christ? Make sure of your own salvation for your soul’s sake.