Q.   Please explain Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yahshua the Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. 2:16)

A.   A recurring theme of Galatians is whether a man should be circumcised (2:1-5; 5:1-12; 6:11-15).
            Peter says that Paul’s epistles are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction (2Pet. 3:16).
            Paul says, “O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not OBEY THE TRUTH…you did run well; who did hinder you that you should not OBEY THE TRUTH?” Galatians 3:1; 5:7.
            What is truth?  “Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth,” John 17:17.  We find that Yahshua is the Word (John 1:1-3, 14) as well as the truth (John 14:6).  Yahshua came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matt. 5:17-20).  He set an example that we should follow in His steps, WHO DID NO SIN, neither was guile found in His mouth (1Pet. 2:21-22).  Sin is the transgression of the law (1John 3:4).
            We find then, that we are to OBEY the word of Yahweh, which is truth, which is Yahshua, Who is righteous, having committed no sin, having obeyed the law perfectly, setting an example for us to follow Him.
            Those who circumcise the physical flesh with their own hands are indebted to perform the whole law themselves as ancient Israel promised to do (Ex. 19:8).  We are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the SINS of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah (Col. 2:11).
            Any performing of the law in us is by the power of the Spirit given from Yahweh through Yahshua, as Yahshua said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.  We can do nothing without Yahshua, just as He could do nothing without the Father (John 5:19, 30; 8:28).
            Churchianity proclaims the New Testament (Covenant) without even considering or understanding what the New Testament (Covenant) really is.  The New Covenant or Testament is actually found in Hebrews 8, where we read, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  For finding fault with them, He says, Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, says Yahweh.  For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh.  I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they will be to Me a People” verses 7-10.
            We also read, “If therefore perfection were by the Levticial priesthood, (for under it the People received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  For the priesthood being changed [Greek; metatithemi – transferred (from Levi to Melchisedec)] there is made of necessity a change (metathesis – transportation, i.e. transferal [to heaven]) also of the law,” Hebrew 7:11-12.
            Physical Israel with the physical Levitical priesthood failed in its promise and responsibility to perform Yahweh’s law.  Listen to what Isaiah wrote, “But this is a People robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none says, ‘Restore.’ Who among you will give ear to this?  Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?  Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers?  Did not Yahweh, He against Whom we have sinned?  For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law,” 42:22-24.
            But we read in verse 21, “Yahweh is well pleased for His righteousness sake; He [Yahweh] will magnify the law and make it honorable.”
            The Hebrew word for “magnify” is gadal.  It also means, make large, increase, make great.  “Honorable” is the Hebrew word adar, which also means to expand, be great or magnificent, become glorious.
            Considering both the scriptures in Hebrews and Isaiah, Yahweh promising to expand His law from the fleshly application, the fleshly priesthood and people with animal sacrifices, into a glorious spiritual priesthood that has the greatest sacrifice, one sacrifice for all time, able to cleanse the conscience from all guilt and enable those under this covenant to perform His law perfectly.
            The first covenant was only a shadow of this second, much more magnificent covenant (Heb. 8:5) that is based on better promises and a more faithful priesthood administered through Yahshua the Messiah. “Do we then make void the law through faith?  Let it not be; yea we establish [histemi-stand, abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, hold up, present, stand by] the law,” Romans 3:31.