Understanding the Curse of the Law

The law itself is not a curse. It is a blessing. When Moses received the law from God, the Hebrews had just come out of Egypt. As a nation they had few rules and regulations to protect them. God's law as given to Moses would help maintain an abundant and blessed lifestyle for all who would follow the law. It was only a curse to the disobedient.

The purpose of the law is to protect. Speed limits on the highway are a law. They are a blessing to those who drive the speed limit safely and a curse to those who disobey the speed limit and have an accident. Blessings and safety come through obedience. Destruction comes through disobedience.

In order to understand the curse of the law, we have to refer back to the Old Testament where it was given. The curse of the law, as described in the New Testament, is usually referring to the blessings and cursings described in the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, also known as the Pentateuch. These five books, specifically Deuteronomy chapter 28, list blessings for obeying the law and curses for disobeying the law. Curses were not in existence until man separated himself from God in the Garden of Eden through disobedience.

When Adam and Eve sinned, their separation from God's provision brought them poverty, sickness, and spiritual death. In their own strength, there was no way out.

From Adam and Eve until the sacrifice of Christ, people were under the curse of poverty, sickness, and spiritual death. There was no way man could pay the price for healing, poverty, or spiritual death. The law required a perfect sacrifice and no man was perfect.

God had made a way through the law where the priest could cover sin by the blood sacrifice of animals. Once a year he would go into the Holy of Holies and the presence of God. The priests also offered daily sacrifices for the atoning or covering of the people's sins during the year. The ritual was long and had to be carefully executed.

Jesus came to earth and became our substitute sacrifice that, once and for all, broke the curse of the law. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice which broke the curse of the law for all who believe.

Jesus did more than atone. The word "atonement" means "to cover." Jesus cleansed us of our sins. He remitted our sins and He made reconciliation between man and God. Once He redeemed us from the debt we couldn't pay, it allowed the cleansed, born-again believer into the Holy of Holies and the presence of God. That is what the blood of Jesus did.

The blood of Jesus was perfect blood and the only blood that could redeem us from the curse of the law. To learn more, check out Dr. Ollison's book, Life is in the Blood.