Really, Paul? (Galatians 5:7-15)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 5:7-15
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

LANGUAGE

Vs 12  Emasculate - to amputate; reflexively (by irony) to mutilate (the privy parts): — cut off.

COMMENT

Couple of thoughts.

One, they were doing good, but suddenly they are not obeying the truth. So this idea of needing the law is not just a poor but excusable choice, it is to not obey the truth. So this is serious stuff! When we follow doctrine that is wrong, sounds like there could be serious consequence.

Two, Paul was persecuted because he did not preach circumcision. Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, faced persecution because they did not like his doctrine and teaching! But I love Paul's response. He wishes that those who preached circumcision would go the whole distance and cut off their privy parts.

Again, he does not leave this without reminding them that he is not advocating following the flesh. He is advocating the only appropriate response to the gospel is to love and serve one another (and in essence, to love and serve God). Any other response will end in self-destruction.