Rest for the Soul

Rest for the Soul

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:12 and Matthew 11:28–30

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

Try as we might, we cannot keep the commandments. We may wish to do so, but we cannot. No one but Jesus has ever been able to perfectly observe the law. Some detractors would insist that he did not keep it rightly either (Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5). When the law was placed upon the Gentiles by the Jerusalem Council, Peter stood up to them and demanded to know why this yoke was being placed upon the Gentiles when no Jew, including that Council, had ever been able to bear it. He went on to declare their faith in Christ Jesus, through whom all who believe will be saved.

Keeping the law rightly demands an observance of more than the law; it requires we observe the one who did keep it justly. When we have faith in Jesus, the only right keeper of the law, then he imputes his righteousness to those sinners who believe in him even if they cannot keep the law. The law of Moses binds us to our sin, while Christ sets us free. In Christ alone is rest for the soul, for his yoke is easy and his burden light because he carried all our sins to the cross and left them nailed there.

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