Finding Freedom
The Galatians were a people Paul had come to after suffering injury. He ministered to them in their need while they, in turn, cared for his.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
Galatians 4:12-15
Their mutual care for one another resulted in a bond that made it very hard for Paul to later hear that other teachers had come to them, leading them astray of the gospel of Christ. It is for this reason that he wrote to them.
Where once they had been free in Christ, they were having burdens heaped upon them again!
Submitting to Slavery
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Galatians 4:8-10
It seems a silly thing, that people who had once been set free would willingly submit to bondage again. What could a false teacher possibly do that could convince them back into endless observance of rules when they had righteousness that is through faith in Jesus?!
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
Galatians 4:17
These teachers came with flattery to the Galatians. It’s easy to be a sucker when someone is puffing you up. However, you see their angle in the verse as well. They weren’t building the Galatians up, but rather setting them up so that they could be led away from safety in the arms of Christ. Why? Because those who don’t serve God on his terms become more effective servants of men.
They wanted to separate believers from the knowledge of Jesus so that they would become dependent upon the new teachings of these charlatans. Where before the Galatians would have been free to pursue a deeper understanding of the will of God in his timeless nature, now they had grown to look to these teachers for the rules and rituals they were expected to perform in order to earn their praise.
Do Not Submit Again
Christians, today we face a similar temptation. There are all sorts of pressures to conform to new standards of false teachers in order to earn the praise and adoration of the world. Teachers come to us with lofty words about new ways to love our neighbor. They are ready with no end of applause for those who subscribe to the sets of standards that modern academics prescribe to solve the world’s problems, especially cheering for those who formally believed God’s ways were enough.
They are ready to make much of you to separate you from your savior, so that you will ultimately make much of them. They seek to be gods over you, though they are by nature not gods. A few little hoops to jump through, it doesn’t even likely seem like a full compromise, and you could be one of the good Christians. Not anything like those other Christians, for whom the world holds nothing but contempt. It’s a goal to separate you from the body of Christ so that you will worship the lawgivers of the world instead.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
