The idea of being cursed is not common in modern society, but cursing from God is real and today we read of two causes of being cursed by God.

The first comes from failing to keep the whole law of God (v10). Paul is saying to those who think they can get right with God through keeping the law, they need perfect obedience and failure to do so brings down God’s curse. As such perfect obedience is impossible Paul’s conclusion is that being made right with God through the law is impossible (v11). The only hope is being made right through faith and keeping the law for salvation is not of faith (v12).

This brings us to a second cause of cursing which is by being hung on a tree (v13; from Deut. 21 v23). Here is the wonderful truth of the Gospel, that when all people have come under God’s curse due to failing to keep His Law perfectly, Jesus came to be a substitute to take the curse upon Himself at the cross. The One who perfectly kept God’s law and deserves God’s blessing, in love chose to receive God’s wrath and curse so that sinners could be rescued from the curse of judgment and hell. How wonderful, how marvellous!

In Jesus being a substitute non-Jews are also brought into the blessings of Abraham’s covenant, receiving salvation according to God’s promise through the Spirit and faith. Do you trust in Jesus? Then rejoice you are under God’s blessing and not His curse.