What Does the Scripture Say?

Twice in the New Testament Paul writes "What does the Scripture say?" or "What saith the Scripture?"

The first mention has to do with the source of righteousness:

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3)

Righteousness is all about believing on the God of Abraham, the same God who declared that through Abraham's seed, Jesus, all the nations of the world would be blessed:

"Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." (Galatians 3: 15-17)

We are made righteousness by faith, not by works.

The other mention regards what to do with the law:

"Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." (Galatians 4: 30)

The bondwoman and her son represent the law, not just the ceremonial law, but the whole moral law.

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4: 22-26)

What does the Scripture say? Believe the Lord Jesus (John 6:29) and cast out the law (Hebrews 8: 13)