....For though the law promises reward to those who observe its righteousness, it yet substitutes, after having proved all guilty, another righteousness in Christ, which is not attained by works, but is received by faith as a free gift. Thus the righteousness of faith, receives a testimony from the law. We have then here a remarkable passage, which proves that the law in all its parts had a reference to Christ; and hence no one can rightly understand it, who does not continually level at this mark.
True, dat. And not just of the Jews. Men love the forms of the Law. When the Law is not onerous enough, they invent laws of their own and stretch the scriptures vanishingly thin to achieve credibility for themselves. Witness (for a single example) the strict prohibition against alcohol in many churches.
Thank you for this excellent commentary on the true purpose of Law. Little can be added except, perhaps by extension, we Gentiles, given the law of conscience (which Paul refers to in 2:14), should have a parallel experience. Our own personally evident failures should lead us by the hand to Him, also.