Note 10 at Gal. 3:24: The law is now stated as being our "schoolmaster," bringing us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith in Him.

The Greek word for "schoolmaster" is PAIDAGOGOS, and described a slave in either Greek or Roman households whose job it was to conduct a young child to and from school (to the real teacher), as well as to supervise the life and morals of the child until he reached maturity. Although the PAIDAGOGOS might instruct, his real job was to supervise by strict enforcement of rules and regulations. So until Christ came the law was like someone trying to make us behave.

The law drove us to holiness to show us the futility of self salvation. This prepared us for the message of Christ bringing salvation as a gift. Only those who have known the oppression of the law can fully appreciate the redemption provided by Jesus as a gift.