This is a graphic word that Paul uses to describe the law and its relationship to an unbeliever. He calls the law a "tutor", the same title given to those slaves in the first century who were bought for the purpose of taking care of children. They were not glorified baby sitters by any means. They were conscientious guardians who watched over their masters’ children, caring, protecting, and tutoring them in the ways of life until they reached adulthood. The closest thing we have today is a nanny. These "tutors" had the reputation of being rather strict in their discipline, and many children would look forward to the day when they were liberated from their watch.

Paul calls the Ten Commandments a tutor for the unsaved people of Israel, because it tutored them in the way of life. It pointed out their inadequacies and inability to meet God’s standard of perfection while, at the same time, pointed the way forward to the day when Messiah would come to liberate them from its watch. He alone would keep law perfectly, conquer death, and bring salvation to those helpless under the law.

Galatians 3:24 really gives us ony one of several purposes of the Ten Commandments; namely, to demonstrate to an unbeliever that he cannot possibly keep God’s perfect, moral code (cf. Exodus 20:1-17), that he remains in a state of condemnation because of that fact, and that he must rely on the work of God’s chosen Messiah alone to escape the coming wrath of God on the sinner. In short, the Ten Commandments are part of God’s grand witnessing tool to lead people to Christ.