18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
18 No, this addendum, with its instructions and regulations, has nothing to do with the promised inheritance in the will.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 3:18
Commentary on Galatians 3:15-18
(Read Galatians 3:15-18)
The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and his spiritual seed, who are his by faith. By this we learn the difference between the promises of the law and those of the gospel. The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ. Rightly to divide the word of truth, a great difference must be put between the promise and the law, as to the inward affections, and the whole practice of life. When the promise is mingled with the law, it is made nothing but the law. Let Christ be always before our eyes, as a sure argument for the defence of faith, against dependence on human righteousness.