“From Schoolmaster to Friend”
Galatians 3:23—4:7
6-22-2025
In the name of Him who makes us heirs of eternal life, dear friends in Christ. Someone once said that the teacher you remember the most is the one who was the toughest on you and challenged you to learn. Oh, at the time you may not have liked that teacher. Especially in our youth, we tend to see them as mean or sadistic. They pile on the assignments and refuse to accept sloppy or mediocre work. These teachers demand a strict classroom discipline. You’re there to learn, not clown around. As it often goes, though, you don’t appreciate that person and what they managed to teach you until later in life. That was my experience. My 7th grade teacher was Mr. Geyer. I swear, that guy could make a Marine shake in his boots. Everybody at Bethlehem Lutheran School knew that you didn’t mess with Mr. Geyer. He was strict. Back in those days, the paddle was used freely for capital punishment. I know, you think I meant to say “corporal” punishment. I didn’t misspeak. If Mr. Geyer swatted you with the paddle, you’d wish you were dead because he hit harder than any other teacher. I was certainly no angel, but the fear of discipline from the 7th grade “bulldog” kept me in line. Yes, I screwed around a bit and a few times I got sent out to the hallway. But I don’t ever recall getting one of those dreadful swats.
Now, lest you think Mr. Geyer’s only role was that of a grade school drill sergeant, let me add that in this very controlled environment, we actually learned. Naturally I don’t remember every detail of what he taught us, but I do recall that Mr. Geyer taught me some valuable life lessons especially when it came to my faith. He also taught me that first and foremost he was called by God to be my teacher, not my friend. Isn’t that what ruins our schools today? Some teachers have a notion that they’re supposed to be the student’s “buddy.” As a result, school discipline goes right out the window which makes learning difficult if not impossible.
So, what’s all this got to do with our sermon text? Well, the image of a strict school teacher is what St. Paul has in mind in the opening verses. This is one of those times where I prefer the King James Version over the ESV that you just heard read. Verse 24 in the King James goes like this: “Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The word there for schoolmaster has an interesting meaning. The wealthy people in the ancient Roman world would have a servant who was assigned to supervise and watch over their boys between the ages of 7 and 17. Their job was a combination of nanny and strict teacher. This schoolmaster had the task of educating them as well as the authority to discipline them if necessary. The students were not even allowed to step outside of the house without this tight supervision.
The kids who were under the constant scrutiny of the schoolmaster certainly felt as though they were in prison with very limited freedom. I can guarantee you that I felt like a prisoner at times in Mr. Geyer’s classroom. Paul says this was the function of God’s Law before faith in Christ came. He states in the opening verse that the Law held us like prisoners. Was this strict supervision meant to be a punishment for our sins? Not at all. Like in Mr. Geyer’s classroom, it was meant to teach us. Teach us what? God’s Law was there as our schoolmaster to teach us the futility of our sin and our inability to do anything about it. The Law shows us what God demands: absolute perfection. In order for us to be considered righteous in God’s eyes and therefore heirs of His kingdom, we must be perfect. God’s Law teaches us that on our own none of us can earn that passing grade. Our spiritual report card shows all ‘F’s.’ We’ve failed. As Paul says in Romans 3, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
But that’s not all that the strict schoolmaster, God’s Law, was intended to teach us. If it were, then our situation would be hopeless and we’d have to despair. No, once we get educated and learn that our efforts to get a “passing grade” on our own are futile, the Law then points us to the only solution: Jesus Christ. Paul says that the Law was put in charge “until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” By faith in His substitutionary death on the cross, we are now considered righteous in God’s sight. Because of what Christ has done for us, we now can “pass the test” so-to-speak. Our sins which condemned us have all been erased like erasing failing grades from a report card. When did we receive this blessing? Paul says when we were baptized, we were clothed with Christ. All the benefits of His death and resurrection were applied to us then.
And so, Paul says in verse 25 that now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law. Oh goody! Once we have faith in Jesus as our Savior then the God’s Law no longer has any authority over us, right? It’s like graduating from school. We can walk away and thumb our nose at our old schoolmaster, right? Wrong! God’s Law doesn’t go away once we have faith. Rather, it’s role changes in our lives.
Allow me to use my relationship with Mr. Geyer as an illustration. In those younger days he was my strict teacher. I didn’t necessarily like him or fully appreciate him then. But later, as I matured into a man, he went from being my teacher to my friend. That doesn’t mean I forgot or disregarded the things he taught me. No, but now that I was out from under his supervision, I could see the benefit of what he had taught me. And I was grateful to him for it. I’ll admit, it was strange when he invited me to call him Harold instead of Mr. Geyer. But it was a cherished privilege.
Likewise with God’s Law. Once we have faith in Christ, the Law doesn’t go away. It’s role changes from strict schoolmaster to friend. Now, you may be thinking, “No way! The Law condemns me before God; how can it be my friend?” Folks, God’s Law doesn’t condemn you, your sins do. But the Law is sort of like the teacher who reports the bad news of your failure to your father. There are far too many Christians who totally mess this up. On the one hand, there are those who say that since we have faith and are no longer under the supervision of the Law then we can ignore it. So, they go out and live like unbelievers. They talk and act as though they don’t know what God has commanded for how Christians are to live. It would be like a person saying that since they’re now adults they don’t have to remember that 2+2=4. Ridiculous! Just because your teacher isn’t looking over your shoulder and grading your math papers doesn’t mean this mathematic rule has vanished. And neither has God’s Law.
On the other hand, there are folks who go the opposite direction. They act as though we need more rules and more supervision in order to live the Christian life. And so, they insist that Christians shouldn’t dance, play cards, or enjoy a little Lutheran Kool-Aid in moderation. That’s like a 32-year-old squeezing himself into a desk in the second grade again. He hasn’t matured and wants the strict teacher to supervise his every action. They’re afraid to exercise their Christian freedom for fear that they might break one of God’s commandments. Well, you might as well give it up then. Since you’re still a sinner you’re guaranteed to regularly violate God’s call to perfection. Worse than that, though, it implies this is the way to be righteous before God. That’s a lesson which God’s Law painstakingly tries to teach us is false. Paul says that the Law leads us to Christ so that we can be made righteous by faith, not by keeping the Law.
So, what really is the purpose and role of God’s Law in the life a Christian? Well, if you remember your Small Catechism instruction, you’ll know the answer. In there we learn that the Law acts as a Curb, a Mirror, and a Guide. The Law is a Curb in that it sets boundaries to control and restrict people from doing bad things in the civil realm of our world. Every society on the face of the earth has rules to control the outward, sinful actions of people. Laws like don’t steal, don’t murder, and don’t lie have been put into place by governments to protect the citizens of their nation. The Law is also a Mirror because it shows us our sins. When you look into the Mirror of God’s Word you will quickly see that the Law is staring you in the face, showing you how you have failed to obey God. It shows us our sin so that we can repent and receive forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ. And finally, the Law is a Guide for Christians to live a God-pleasing life. Notice, this one is only for Christians who have faith in God. When we wonder how God wants us to act, we can look in the Bible and the Law is there as a friend, reminding us of what God has said. We then strive to live according to His Commandments. Not because we’re trying to justify ourselves before Him. Not because we are coerced to obey out of fear or the hope of some earned reward. But rather, we obey out of love for our heavenly Father, who showed us mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. By faith, we willingly seek to do His Holy Will.
Over the years of teaching Confirmation kids, I’ve discovered that I’ve become a lot like Harold Geyer. I’m proud to say that my students have a tough, strict teacher in me. Not because I’m some mean, control freak. Instead, my goal is to make sure these kids confidently know what they believe in and how to clearly express their faith. My goal is to challenge them to remain loyal to their profession of faith and live by it. But most of all, my goal is to point them to Jesus as their Savior. If they don’t like me or the hard work I put them through, it’s okay. As long as they hold onto their faith in Jesus, I’ll be happy. And who knows, someday they may come to appreciate it and may even consider me as their friend.
If God’s Law were a person, it would say the same thing. As St. Paul tells us, when we have faith in Jesus then the main teaching task of the Law is done. It has become our friend. Through its work, we are now “sons {and daughters} of God” by virtue of our Baptisms. And because we are children of God then we no longer need to be under the supervision and tutelage of the schoolmaster, the Law. Instead, by faith we are full-fledged heirs of God’s promise of salvation through Jesus and free to live by His grace. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!