The Law was weak because of the flesh, not because there was anything imperfect in the Law itself.
Paul writes that the Law could not do what was needed "in that it was weak through the flesh" (Romans 8:3). The Law is spiritual and God-given, but fallen human nature — what Les calls old Adam — could not keep it, so it could only condemn. God then sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, doing what the Law could not do.
Romans 8:3 — This verse directly answers the question by saying the Law was weak "through the flesh" — not weak in itself.
Paul writes, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). He then explains the Law's limitation: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). Paul does not say the Law itself is evil; he says it is spiritual: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14). The Bible also says "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). And in Galatians, Paul calls the Law "weak and beggarly elements" that bring people back into bondage (Galatians 4:9).
Les teaches that the Law's weakness is on the human side, not the divine side. From man's perspective, the Mosaic Law was faulty and beggarly because man could not keep it, and the Law had no power to help anyone obey it — all it could do was condemn (Clips 1, 2). The real problem is the old Adamic nature; Paul calls himself carnal, a son of Adam sold under sin, even while saying the Law is spiritual (Clip 6). The Law's one purpose was to give the knowledge of sin and show what old Adam is really like (Clips 5, 7). God answered the Law's weakness by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh (Clips 0, 1). Therefore, believers are not under the Mosaic system but under grace, and to turn back to the Law is to return to weak and beggarly elements and bondage (Clip 4). Paul himself never forsook the morality of God's Law, even though he was not under it as a system (Clip 3).
The Bible says the Law is spiritual (Romans 7:14), and Les agrees that it was written by the finger of God, holy, and God-given. The weakness Paul describes is specifically "through the flesh" (Romans 8:3). Les says the Mosaic Law from man's perspective was faulty because man could not keep it, not because the Law itself was defective. The Law had no power to help a man obey it; all it could do was condemn him.
According to Paul, "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). Les emphasizes that this is the Law's one purpose: to show man his sin and to show what the old Adamic nature is really like. The Law could not save, could not help, and could not change a man; it could only condemn and compound his sinfulness by revealing how contrary his behavior is to a holy God.
In Galatians 4:9, Paul asks the Galatian believers how they could turn back to the "weak and beggarly elements" of the Law, where they desired to be in bondage again. Les says these were Gentile believers saved by grace who were tempted to go back under the Law; Paul calls that a return to a weak and beggarly system. Being free from the Law did not mean Paul abandoned the Law's morality — he never forsook the moral standard of God, but he was not under the Mosaic system.
The Law's Weakness Through the Flesh
Les reads Romans 8:3 and emphasizes that the Law could not do what was needed because it was weak through the flesh; God then sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh.
Law Weak and Beggarly From Man's Point of View
Les points to Romans 8:2-3 and says that from man's point of view the Mosaic system was weak and beggarly, contrasted with the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
The Law Could Not Help; It Could Only Condemn
Les explains that the Mosaic Law was faulty from man's perspective because man could not keep it, and it had no power to help a person obey it — its only work was to condemn.
Paul Still Respected the Law's Morality
Les clarifies that when Paul said he became as one under the law, he never forsook the morality of God's Law; being free from the Law as a system did not mean he could do as he pleased morally.
Don't Return to Weak and Beggarly Elements
Les applies Galatians 4:9 to Galatian believers who were saved by grace but tempted to go back under the Law; he explains that Paul calls the Law 'weak and beggarly elements' and equates returning to it with bondage.
The Law's Purpose: Knowledge of Sin
Les teaches that the Law's one purpose in Scripture is to give the knowledge of sin and to show old Adam how he really operates; it was never intended to do more than show man his sin.
The Law Is Spiritual, but Man Is Carnal
Les explains Paul's conclusion that the Law is spiritual — the very mind of God for mankind — while Paul himself is carnal, a son of Adam sold under the old Adamic nature, which is why Christ had to die.
The Law Reveals and Compounds Sinfulness
Les says the Law shows what old Adam is really made of and compounds human sinfulness by revealing that everything man does is contrary to a holy God; he also notes the Law was written by the finger of God, holy, God-given, and spiritual.
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.
Shows the contrast between the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of sin and death, which the evidence identifies with the Mosaic system.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The central verse for why the Law was weak: its weakness was through the flesh, not in the Law itself.
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.
States the Law's purpose: giving the knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:14: For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Confirms that the Law itself is spiritual, while man is carnal and sold under sin.
Galatians 4:9: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Paul calls the Law weak and beggarly elements and warns against returning to bondage under it.
No. Les says Paul knew the Law was spiritual, holy, God-given, and written by the finger of God. The weakness was through the flesh — fallen human nature couldn't keep it (Romans 7:14; 8:3).
In Galatians 4:9, Paul warns saved believers who were tempted to return to the Mosaic system. From man's perspective the Law was weak and beggarly because it had no power to help anyone keep it and only brought those under it into bondage.
The Law could not justify a person or help him obey; it could only condemn. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to do what the Law could not do, condemning sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). Les says the Law's purpose was simply to show man his sin.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means