Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 3:12

"and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them." — Galatians 3:12 (ASV)

But perhaps both are needed, both faith and law? Not so, says Paul. For faith excludes law, and law by its very nature excludes faith. He quotes Lev 18:5 (part of the law) to support this position. Mentally we are to supply “the law says that” after “on the contrary.”