"THE LAW HAS BECOME OUR TUTOR"

Conclusion of The Law as a  Tutor

An essential element of the apostle Paul's illustration, however, was the temporary nature of a tutor's authority.  When the child reached the age of maturity, he was no loner under his tutor's control. The Greek historian Zenophon (431-352 B.C.E.) wrote:  "When a boy ceased to be a child, and begins to be a lad, others release him from his [tutor] and from his [teacher]; he is then no longer under them, but is allowed to go his own way." 

It was the same with the authority of the Law of Moses.  Its function was temporary-"to make transgressions manifest, until the seed [Jesus Christ] should arrive."  The apostle Paul explained that for the Jews, the Law was a "tutor leading to Christ." In order for Paul's Jewish contemporaries to enjoy God's favor, they had to recognize Jesus' role in God's purpose. Once they did so, the function of the tutor was fulfilled. -Galatians 3:19, 24, 25.  

The Law that God gave to the Israelites was perfect. It fully achieved the purposes for which God established it-to protect his people and to make them aware of his high standards.  (Romans 7:7-14) The Law was a good tutor.  For some who lived under its protection, however, its requirements might have seemed burdensome. Hence, Paul could write that when God's appointed time arrived, "Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law." The Law was a "curse" only in the sense that it subjected imperfect Jews to standards they could not completely measure up to. It called for the scrupulous observance of rituals. Once a Jew accepted the superior position made possible by Jesus' ransom sacrifice, adherence to the tutor's restrictions was no longer necessary. -Galatians 3:13; 4:9, 10.

Paul's focus, then, in likening the Law of Moses to a tutor was to emphasize its custodial function and its temporary nature. Jehovah's favor is gained, not by  obedience to that Law, but by recognizing  Jesus and exercising faith in him. -Galatians 2:16; 3:11. 

Next time: "THE LAW HAS BECOME OUR TUTOR" -"MEN IN CHARGE" AND STEWARDS" 

From the Watchtower magazine