“The Messiah has paid the price to free us from the curse of the Torah.” [Galatians 3:13]
What does this statement truly mean? What was Paul the Apostle telling the people? Was he speaking badly of the Law of Yahweh?
Does he mean, as Protestants and Evangelicls teach, that the Torah [Law] does not apply to Christians? No! Paul wrote: “Do we abolish Torah by our faith? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm the Torah.” [Romans 3:13]
Does it mean that the Law was a bad, cursed set of rules? No! “Is the Law sinful? Heaven forbid!” [Romans 7:7] “The Torah is holy; the commandments are holy, just and good.” [Romans 7:12]
Did the Apostle reject the Torah, himself? No! Instead, he wrote: “I love the Law of God with all my heart.” [Romans 7:22]
Did he teach that Christians did not need to obey the Law? No! “For it is not merely knowing the Torah that brings approval from God. Those who obey the Law will be declared righteous in in the sight of God.” [Romans 2:13]
Then what did Paul the Apostle mean when he told the church that the Messiah saved us from the “curse of the Torah”?
What most people fail to realize is that when the Law was given from Yahweh to Israel at Sinai, breaking any one of the Ten Commandments of the Covenant could result in the death penalty! If someone promoted the worship of gods other than Elohim, or any type of idolatry, he or she was to be put to death. [Exodus 22:20; Leviticus 20:2-4; Numbers 25; Deuteronomy 13:6-10] Those who did not honor the Sabbath could be sentenced to death. [Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36] Certain sexual acts were to be punished by the death penalty. [Leviticus 20:11-16] Lying [bearing false witness] in a capital trial could result in a death sentence for the liar. [Deuteronomy 19:15-21] Even the repeated, bold dishonoring of parents may result in the death penalty! [Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 21:18-21] Deliberate breaking of the Ten Commandments of the Covenant carried with it the potential of death! That was the curse of the Law.
Neither Paul, the other Apostles, nor the Messiah, Himself, ever said that the Law was done away with, nor that the Law was a curse. What Paul rejoiced in was that Yahshua [Jesus] took away the curse of the death penalty for breaking the Law! That was obvious cause for great rejoicing! The death of the Savior substituted for the death that the Torah required for breaking those Commandments. What a relief for those who claim Him as their Savior! What a load lifted! Jesus died instead of me – and instead of you. I have broken some of those Ten Commandments, and you have too. Someone had to die to pay for those sins. And the Someone was the Messiah instead of me, and instead of you. He took the curse for those who follow Him!
Our Redeemer – the Firstborn – the One who saves us – took upon Himself the lethal curse of breaking the Law. He did not abolish the Law – He took our punishment upon Himself. He substituted Himself for us. He was cursed in our place. And that is something to shout praises about!

David Bruce  Clark
Lion of God Ministries
www.lionofgod.com