Central Truth

The law was designed by God as a tutor and as a manner of custody for the Jewish people. The law was the doorway through which God's promise to Abraham (that He would bless all the nations of the world) would be fulfilled.

Reflections

Before understanding this passage, some background information is needed concerning the context. Apparently, the Galatian churches had received false information from false teachers regarding the transition from the Mosaic law to grace by faith in Christ Jesus. To appreciate more fully the problem that Paul deals with in this passage, we must understand the broader context.

First, there was a transition from Christ's earthly ministry to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Second, there was a historical transition from the Jews being the gateway to salvation, to the church as the ground and pillar of the truth through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the heart of the disturbance created by the false teachers.

The more immediate context is that Peter and the men sent from James at Antioch had committed hypocrisy and Paul is telling the Galatian people that he confronted Peter face to face. Paul, in attacking the false teachings at Galatia, is stating his credentials as an apostle as well as his relationship with other apostles. This vindication of his apostleship is expressed in his confrontation with Peter. Paul said point blank that Peter stood condemned and because of the pressure Peter felt from the Jewish men sent from James, he held himself aloof and would not eat with the Gentiles. Paul knew that Peter had visions from God the Father and evidence from the Holy Spirit that the Gentiles were to be included in salvation on an equal basis with the Jews.

Paul saw the disturbance in the Galatian church as critical to the effective advancement of the gospel. Just as the problem with Peter had been a hindrance in the transition from living according to the law to receiving grace through faith in Jesus Christ, he took issue with Peter when he saw that he was not being straightforward concerning the truth of grace. To fully appreciate the critical nature of the false teaching in the Galatian church, Paul reports that he told Peter if the Mosaic law had the power to give life, then Jesus Christ died in vain.

Discussion Questions

It's worthy to note that Paul dealt with the issue of Peter's hypocrisy head on, because he knew how critical this issue is to the church. The issue in Paul's mind was simple: do you Galatians, who have been freed from the bondage of the law, go back to the bondage of the law? Paul said that anyone who keeps the law must keep is perfectly (Ch. 3).

1. Do you fully appreciate the evil nature and repercussions of hypocrisy (Paul said that even Barnabas was carried away by the hypocrisy of Peter)? Why or why not?

2. Hypocrisy influences and distorts people away from the truth of the gospel. Are you committed to truth? How so?

3. Are you willing to celebrate the wonderful liberty Paul expressed in this passage through simple grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ? What is one way you can celebrate that this week?