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The Apostle Paul's Epistle
to the Galatians |
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Chapter 6
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1Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are
spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one
looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
The way we know what a trespass is
through studying the commandments of the Torah (Romans 7:7).
We are to gently help people come out of their sins, making sure
that we don't fall into any sin ourselves.
2Bear one another's burdens, and
thereby fulfill the Torah of Messiah.
To fulfill the Torah of Messiah is to
live out the Torah the way the Messiah lived and taught it. It's not
a different Torah than the Torah of Moses. The Messiah's
interpretation of the Torah is the definitive interpretation of the
Torah and as His followers it's the interpretation we need to be
adhering to.
3For if anyone thinks he is
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But each one
must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting
in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5For each
one will bear his own load.
Paul could be alluding to the fact
that some (specifically the Influencers) thought that their status
granted them a privileged place. Our status in the community should
not be measured by our ethnicity or our legal status acquired
through a ritual but rather in how we are living out the
commandments ("each one must examine his own work"). We mustn't look
down on others and instead focus on ourselves in regards to becoming
more like the Messiah.
6The one who is taught the word is
to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will
also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from
the Spirit reap eternal life.
The one who is learned in Torah
should teach others. That teacher, though, should be careful because
if he teaches things that aren't true, he will bear judgment.
Conversely, the one who teaches truth will reap blessing.
9Let us not lose heart in doing
good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So
then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and
especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
As is common with Apostolic teaching,
the focus is put upon the World to Come. Specifically, living out
the ideals of the World to Come now, in This World.
11See with what large letters I am
writing to you with my own hand. 12Those who desire to make a good
showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so
that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Messiah.
Paul now takes the pen from his
scribe and shows that he himself is writing this final section. He
writes large letters to simply make an illustration that the
Influencers were teaching their doctrines purely for external
reasons and not because it was the truth. To proclaim a message that
didn't give the Jewish people an automatic pass into the Kingdom
resulted in persecution; as is evident by the Apostle Paul's life.
To avoid persecution, the Influencers towed the party line that only
Jews were saved and Gentiles needed to become proselytes.
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13For those who are circumcised do
not even keep the Torah themselves, but they desire to have you
circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
In referencing "those who are
circumcised" he must be referring specifically to the Influencers
and those who were adhering to their teachings because surely there
were some Jews and proselytes who were truly living out Torah by
faith. The Influencers were trying to get the Gentile Believers to
become proselytes and keep the Torah their way but Paul's point is
that they're not even keeping the Torah themselves! They're only
persuading the Gentiles to become proselytes so that they can be
proud of their accomplishment. This echoes the words of the Master
when he said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,
because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and
when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as
yourselves.”
(Matthew 23:15).
14But may it never be that I would
boast, except in the cross of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, through
which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Paul, on the other hand, had no
desire to boast in his accomplishments. He knows and proudly
proclaims that the death of Messiah is the power that brings
salvation and not anything in ourselves. By the cross of the
Messiah, we are able to be reckoned righteous and no longer subject
to any worldly power.
15For neither is circumcision
anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Specifically, we are free the
doctrine that puts emphasis on legal Jewish status because it
doesn't matter whether you're a Jew or non-Jew, because in Messiah
we are a new creation. As we saw earlier, there are two other
parallel statements which allude to the fact that being a new
creation means keeping the commandments by faith, always based upon
love.
16And those who will walk by this
rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
To "walk by this rule" means to
adhere to the legal ruling on how to interpret the Torah. The Israel
of God, in my opinion, refers to all Jews and Gentiles who have
genuine faith and are living out the covenant expectations God gave
Israel in the Torah.
17From now on let no one cause trouble
for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Yeshua. 18The grace
of our Master Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit, brethren.
Amen.
Paul brought to mind again the fact that he was persecuted for the
message he was proclaiming. He wished that no one would cause
trouble for him; in other words, he wished that the Galatians would
take to hear the message of the epistle and continue on the path
that they were on. For the grace of the Master Yeshua can enable us
to overcome any situation. And to that, let us all say: “Amen!” |
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