The curse of the law is death. First and foremost, Paul wants us to understand that. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they invited death into paradise. From that day forward, every person who was born would eventually die. Every person experienced brokenness and separation from God, and because God loves us, that was unacceptable.

When God gave Moses the law at Mount Sinai, it was a move towards wholeness. The Jews believed that God breathed the Law into existence. It was sacred and Holy – a glimpse into God’s heart – but the Law was not life-giving. Why? Because the Law pronounced death on those who couldn’t keep the Law… and no one could keep the Law. That’s what Paul refers to here as the “curse of the Law.”

But Christ redeemed us from that curse. Jesus lived the perfect life none of us could live, and He died the atoning death all of us deserved. Now, Jesus invites us to come to God through faith in Him. He has restored what was broken, and He offers life and wholeness.