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Q: Do Moses and Paul contradict each other?
A: Deuteronomy 30:11 says that keeping the law is not difficult, yet Galatians 3:10-14 says that no one is able to. How do we explain that apparent contradiction. This may not answer all the questions these texts raise, but here, perhaps, is a way forward.
Deuteronomy is written by Moses; Galatians by Paul. Both are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Yet Paul had much more information to go on than did Moses. Writing in the New Covenant with a clear view of God’s plan of salvation surely gives him an advantage in describing the function of the law. This is not to say that Moses is wrong but that Paul is more thorough in his explanation and clearer in his perception.
Deuteronomy is speaking communally of national security, while Galatians addresses more the question of an individual’s salvation. In other words, it is one thing to say that a covenant community can keep the law of God generally, and thus receive God’s blessing. It is quite another thing to say that an individual can thoroughly follow the law of God and thereby merit God’s favor through personal righteousness.
Even in the context of Deuteronomy 30, Moses is very much aware that the law will not be kept and that God will therefore punish the nation for its disobedience (v. 1-5). Thus Moses says himself, "The nation will not keep the law and will be punished." In fact, the whole point of this passage is that by returning to the law, the nation could be restored to God’s favor as well as to his promised land. While that worked under the old covenant, that covenant is apparently defunked. Furthermore, while this could work for a nation for temporal blessing, it can not work for an individual for an eternal blessing. The individual who breaks the law is still held accountable to God’s justice with no way to pay.
Thus, Moses is not saying that the law will be kept, nor that it is easy to be kept. Look again at verse 11-12. He is saying that the law is available, not that it is easy to follow. The word for "difficult" means "amazing." In other words, Moses is saying that the law is not an amazing new revelation; rather, it is something they’ve heard and is readily available. In fact, verse 12 is quoted by Paul in Romans 10:5-10. The law was readily available for a person follow and thus to live before God. So also, Jesus is just as readily available that we might accept him by faith and live before God. The difference is, the law depends on the efforts of men, faith on the actions of Christ. The efforts of men are insufficient (even though the law is available and practicable), while the action of Christ is secure and irrevocable. Christ, then, becomes our eschatological Torah.
Consequently, if we told Paul there was a contradiction in his words, he might say, "What? Are you saying the law was effective for producing a right relationship with God? Look at my people’s history ‘ law has only brought exile and death." Furthermore, he would likely argue that Moses was not suggesting the law was easy to follow, only that it was completely available and thus potentially possible to follow. In fact, Moses predicted their disobedience and exile. What he is offering is a way of national repentance through the law, not of personal salvation through perfection.
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