The Law is spiritual in its origin, but from man's side it is fleshly because human beings could not keep it and it only condemned them.
Les Feldick teaches that the Law is spiritual, holy, and perfect from God's point of view, but from man's side it is carnal, fleshly, and weak. The Law had no power to help anyone keep it; it could only reveal sin and condemn. This is why Paul's allegory connects the Mount Sinai covenant to Hagar and Ishmael, the son born after the flesh.
Romans 7:14 — This is the key verse where Paul himself says the law is spiritual, setting up the paradox of its fleshly operation.
Galatians 4:23-24 — Paul allegorizes the two covenants: Ishmael was born after the flesh, and Mount Sinai gendereth to bondage, which is Hagar.
Romans 3:20 — The Scriptures state no flesh is justified by the deeds of the law, and the law's purpose is the knowledge of sin.
The Bible itself declares, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14). Paul does not deny that the Law is holy and spiritual; the problem is on the human side—man is carnal and sold under sin. The same apostle writes, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The Law's God-given purpose was not to make flesh righteous but to reveal sin. In Galatians 4, Paul draws out the allegory: Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman Hagar, "was born after the flesh," while Isaac was "by promise." He identifies these as "the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar" (Galatians 4:23-24). So the Law covenant itself is tied to flesh and bondage, even though the Law itself is spiritual.
Les Feldick shows that the answer depends on which side you are looking from. "The law is spiritual"—it was written by the finger of God and supernaturally presented to the nation of Israel (Clip 1). But, he adds, "from man's side the law is what I've just said"—carnal, fleshly, and weak (Clip 4). In the Hagar/Ishmael allegory, the Law is represented by the bondwoman and the son born after the flesh, the covenant from Mount Sinai that "gendereth to bondage" (Clip 0). Because the Law was given to human beings who could not keep it, man's experience under the Law was one of condemnation. Les emphasizes that the Law had no power to help a person keep it; it could not stop stealing, adultery, or any sin—it could only condemn (Clips 5, 3, 2). Its only intended purpose was to show man his sin (Clip 6). Therefore the Law from the human side is "fleshly"—depending on weak human flesh—while from God's side it remains spiritual and holy. Les also teaches that the believer must "cast out" the bondwoman and her son, meaning total separation from law and legalism (Clip 4).
Les uses "fleshly" to describe the Law from man's perspective. The Law was perfect and spiritual as it came from God, but it operated in the realm of human weakness. In the Galatians 4 allegory, Ishmael—born after the flesh through the bondwoman Hagar—pictures the Mount Sinai covenant, which gendereth to bondage (Clip 0). Les says this is why the Law is carnal and weak: man couldn't keep it, and the Law had no power to help him do so (Clips 4, 5).
Les teaches that the Law could do nothing but condemn; it had no life-giving power whatsoever (Clip 3). He describes it as sitting in cold stone—severe, condemning, and unable to help the person keep it (Clip 2). By contrast, grace epitomized by the Spirit gives life. The Law's only real purpose was to show man his sin, not to save him (Clip 6).
Scripture says the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" sets us free from the "law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Les explains that the Holy Spirit becomes our guideline for Christian living—warm, loving, and giving us the desire to please God—whereas the Law was cold stone, severe, and condemned. The Spirit indwells the believer and provides the power the Law never had (Clips 2, 5).
The Hagar/Ishmael Allegory
Les explains Paul's allegory: Ishmael was born after the flesh while Isaac was by promise, and the Mount Sinai covenant is Hagar, which genders to bondage.
The Law Is Spiritual
Les states that any good religious Jew knew the Law is spiritual—it was written by the finger of God, supernaturally given, holy, and God-given.
Law vs. Indwelling Holy Spirit
Les contrasts the cold, severe Law written in stone with the warm, loving indwelling Holy Spirit who gives believers the desire to live pleasing to God.
The Law Condemns; the Spirit Gives Life
Les says the Law could do nothing but condemn and had no life-giving power; grace through the Spirit gives life.
The Law Is Carnal From Man's Side
Les directly answers the question: the Law is spiritual, perfect, and holy from God's point of view, but from man's side it is carnal, fleshly, and weak, and must be cast out.
The Law Was Faulty From Man's Perspective
Les teaches the Mosaic Law from man's perspective was faulty because man couldn't keep it and the Law had no power to help him; it could only condemn.
The Law Reveals Sin
Les teaches the Law's only purpose in Scripture is the knowledge of sin; the Ten Commandments show man his natural sinful bent.
The Law Includes the Whole Mosaic System
Les clarifies that when Paul refers to the Law, he includes the moral, civil, and ceremonial aspects, and by the deeds of the Law no flesh is justified.
Romans 7:14: For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
This is the key verse explaining that the Law is spiritual even while man is carnal.
Galatians 4:23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
This verse shows the fleshly nature of the Sinai covenant in contrast to the promise.
Galatians 4:24: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul identifies the Mount Sinai covenant as producing bondage, connected to Hagar.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This verse supports why the Law is fleshly in its effect: it cannot justify flesh, only reveal sin.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
The Law of the Spirit is contrasted with the Mosaic Law that condemns.
2 Corinthians 3:6: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
This verse underscores that the written Law kills while the Spirit gives life.
Both from different vantage points. From God's side the Law is spiritual, holy, and perfect (Romans 7:14). From man's side it is carnal, fleshly, and weak, because human beings could not keep it and it only condemned them.
Because from man's perspective the Law was faulty; it had no power to help mankind keep it, and it could only condemn. The Hagar/Ishmael allegory pictures the Sinai covenant as producing bondage and a son born after the flesh.
Paul says by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified; the law's purpose is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). Les adds that the Law only shows man's sinfulness and has no life-giving power.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham, Sarah, and the Allegory of Law vs. Grace | Genesis 20-21