The Curse
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:13 and Deuteronomy 21:22–23
Series: Comments on Galatians
When it is said that Christ became a curse for us, it means, among other things, that he was removed from the community of God and his people. This is the curse, our own curse, that Christ bore upon the cross. Whereas, we sinners would rightly be cursed and removed from the communion, Christ, who deserved no curse, became the curse for us. In so doing, we are not removed from God or the communion of saints, for there is no longer a curse upon us.
This could be accomplished in no other way. Our devotion to God, our good works and religion, nor anything else could remove the curse. With that curse is also the penalty of death. This too, Christ Jesus bore in our stead. Christ’s separation from God’s family made our inclusion to that same family possible. When Christ became the curse God removed the curse of the law from us. But again, this does not happen because we try harder now to be good and law-abiding. It happens because we have faith in the one who became our curse.
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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