Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13-14)
A certain man was to be born of the offspring of Abraham. I mean Christ, through whom the blessing was to come upon all nations. Since Christ was to bless all nations, whom He found to be accursed, He Himself had to remove the curse from them. But He could not remove it through the Law, because the curse is only increased by this. So what did He do? He attached Himself to those who were accursed, assuming their flesh and blood; and thus He interposed Himself as the Mediator between God and men. He said: "Although I am flesh and blood and live among those who are accursed, nevertheless I am the blessed One through whom all men are to be blessed." Thus He joined God and man in one Person. And being joined with us who were accursed, He became a curse for us; and He concealed His blessing in our sin, death, and curse, which condemned and killed Him. But because He was the Son of God, He could not be held by them. He conquered them and triumphed over them. He took along with Him whatever clung to the flesh that He had assumed for our sake. Therefore all who cling to this flesh are blessed and are delivered from the curse.
A certain man was to be born of the offspring of Abraham. I mean Christ, through whom the blessing was to come upon all nations. Since Christ was to bless all nations, whom He found to be accursed, He Himself had to remove the curse from them. But He could not remove it through the Law, because the curse is only increased by this. So what did He do? He attached Himself to those who were accursed, assuming their flesh and blood; and thus He interposed Himself as the Mediator between God and men. He said: "Although I am flesh and blood and live among those who are accursed, nevertheless I am the blessed One through whom all men are to be blessed." Thus He joined God and man in one Person. And being joined with us who were accursed, He became a curse for us; and He concealed His blessing in our sin, death, and curse, which condemned and killed Him. But because He was the Son of God, He could not be held by them. He conquered them and triumphed over them. He took along with Him whatever clung to the flesh that He had assumed for our sake. Therefore all who cling to this flesh are blessed and are delivered from the curse.
Martin Luther, Luther’s Works: Lectures on Galatians 26:289–290.
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