Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 3:21

"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law." — Galatians 3:21 (ASV)

The second apparent conclusion the legalizers might take from Paul’s doctrine of justification is that the law becomes evil because it opposes grace as the true means of salvation. But this does not follow, Paul replies. It is an abhorrent idea, for it suggests a conflict within the nature of God, who gave both the law and the promise. True, the law increases transgressions (Romans 5:20) and it can even kill (Romans 7:7–11). Still, the law is not bad; it is good—so good that if a person could do what the law requires, that person would find life (Leviticus 18:5; cf. Galatians 3:12).