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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

Galatians 3:15-22

The Law and the Promise to Abraham

August 30, 2026

Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator
Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator, 14th centuryMuseum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
The night the covenant was cut: Abraham on his knees, the halved animals laid out, and fire coming down out of a dark cloud.The promise was made to Abraham four hundred and thirty years before the law, and the law does not annul it.Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminatorA manuscript painter whose name is lost, working in a Bible made to be read aloud.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)Museum Meermanno, The Hague.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 10:23-37Lk 10:23-37
EpistleGal. 3:15-22Gal 3:15-22
Old Testament2 Chron. 28:8-152 Chr 28:8-15
PsalterPs. 32Ps 32

Overview & Insights

"Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring... who is Christ." (Galatians 3:16)

Paul argues that the promise God made to Abraham and his offspring, meaning Christ, cannot be annulled by the law that came four hundred and thirty years later. The law was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come, so that the promise might be given through faith in Jesus Christ.

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Commentary

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Galatians Chapter 3Enduring Word Bible Commentary Gal Chapter 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the promise to Abraham and the purpose of the law.

Galatians 3:15 CommentariesGal 3:15 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the covenant, the offspring, and the added law in one place.

Galatians 3 CommentaryGal 3 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of word studies and cross references worked verse by verse through law and promise.

Galatians 3, Expository NotesGal 3, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on the promise to Abraham and the law as guardian.

Background & Word Study

Book of Galatians OverviewBook of Gal Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Galatians that frames the argument from promise and law to freedom in Christ.

Galatians 3:15 Greek InterlinearGal 3:15 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for covenant, offspring, promise, and the guardian law.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Galatians 3 from the Church FathersCommentary on Gal 3 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse on the promise to Abraham and the role of the law.

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