The news has been filled with week with statistics, world wide reports, deaths and fear from the H1N1 human influenza virus, previously known as swine flu. One of the most distasteful elements of this situation has been the various reactions to it. Minute by minute coverage from many news agencies have sensationalized the situation. Worse yet, spammers have been spreading false information around in order for them to sell their own artificial cures. The most dangerous answer to a problem is the one that takes you away from the true solution.
The Judaizers that Paul has been dealing with as recorded in Galatians have sought to personally benefit themselves while giving the Galatians false curses, an artificial righteousness. Their glorifying in the flesh corrupted the true Gospel. Paul takes these closing verses of Galatians 6:11-13 to show the 1) Religious Pride, 2) Cowardice and 3) Hypocrisy of the Judaizers. But he first deals with his own malady.
Because Paul does not explain in his comment at the beginning of Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand, it therefore cannot be interpreted dogmatically. As always, however, responsible interpretation places great stress on the context.
• Since this letter was meant to be read aloud to the churches, Paul has to make this explicit reference to the change in the handwriting , for not everyone would be in a position to see it for themselves (Boles, Kenneth L.: Galatians & Ephesians. Joplin, Mo. : College Press, 1993 (The College Press NIV Commentary), S. Ga 6:11)
• We could read this as an epistolary aorist (cf. 1 Cor 5:11; Phlm 19, 21) which should be translated, “I am now writing” (cf. RSV, NASB). Thus the autographed portion of the letter would include 6:11–18 and not the entire epistle (George, Timothy: Galatians. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1994 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 30), S. 431)
• In Koine (common) Greek quotation marks were not used. So emphasis was conveyed by enlarging the letters of the words written. Paul personally picks up the pen and writes with large letters to emphasize his concluding words and to validate that the letter was genuine. Recall that the authority/authorship of Paul was challenged (Gal 1 & 2) (Anders, Max: Galatians-Colossians. Nashville, TN : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999 (Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference 8), S. 80)
Thus Paul’s writing with … large letters may have been due to a combination of reasons. The first possibility is that he used large letters because of poor eyesight, an affliction suggested in this letter. Shortly after speaking of having come to Galatia with “a bodily illness” (4:13), the apostle expresses his gratitude to believers there for their willingness to “have plucked out [their] eyes and given them to [him]” (v. 15). If Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7) did involve an eye disease, he understandably wrote in large letters in order to see what he was writing.
Some scholars suggest that large letters refers to Greek uncials, a type of large, unconnected block letters, which, because they were easily seen, were used for public notices.
A professional scribe, however, more often wrote in cursive, not only because it was more attractive but because it was more economical and writing materials were quite expensive. In fact, documents were often erased and their writing surfaces used again.
It is therefore possible that Paul wrote with his own hand and called attention to the large uncial letters as a means of emphasizing content rather than form. Perhaps by the unattractive uncials, Paul was expressing a picture that served purposely to contrast his priorities with those of the Judaizers, who, like the scribes and Pharisees they emulated, were primarily concerned for appearances, for making “a good showing in the flesh” (Gal. 5:12).
• One of the most valid reason for rejecting that Paul is saying that he wrote the entire book of Galatians in large letters as distinguished from “a character of the alphabet” is that he always uses the word epistle (Rom. 16:22 etc) when referring to an entire book. That word is not found here in Galatians 6:11 (William Hendriksen: Galatians New Testament Commentary. Baker Publishing House. 1004 p.241).
Reflecting the sum of the possibilities just discussed, Paul may have used the somewhat unsightly lettering as a statement, saying, in effect, “Because of my poor eyesight, you know how hard it is for me to write by my own hand, but what I have to say is so important and urgent that I want you to have this letter in your hands as soon as possible, with as bold lettering as possible.
• Unlike the Judaizers, I have never tried to impress you with my scholarship, personal skills, or superficial formalities. When I first came to you, you accepted my message with gladness, although my bodily presence was unattractive.
• This epistle is not written attractively, either, but I hope you will receive its message with the same urgency with which it is sent.”
• Given the tone of the letter, the apostle sought in this way to give a final emphatic thrust to his message (Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:610-611).
Whatever else it may indicate, with my own hand shows that Paul normally dictated his letters to a scribe, or amanuensis, who did the actual writing. It was his custom, however, to write a short salutation in his own handwriting (see 1 Cor. 16:21; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17) in order to prove the genuineness of the letter.
• During the time of the early church, many forged documents were circulated in the name of the apostles in order to gain credibility (Pseudopagraphia).
Paul referred to that practice of deception when he cautioned the Thessalonian believers:
2 Thessalonians 2:2 [2]not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (ESV)
If the Judaizers falsely claimed to speak for the Jerusalem apostles, as they likely did (see Acts 15:1–5), they would not have hesitated to claim to speak for Paul, if doing so would serve their purpose.
Paul was therefore concerned not only that the Galatian believers clearly understand what he was writing but that they clearly understand that he was indeed the one who was writing it.
Perhaps Paul was anxious to get his message to the Galatians but had no scribe available at the time. Or, as already suggested, because of the severity of the message itself, he may have wanted to make the letter more personal by writing it all, even with his limitations, in his own hand.
Most of the book of Galatians is spent condemning the false teachings of the Judaizers. Now in these final verses, Paul also condemns their motives for teaching their legalistic perversion of the gospel. Paul declares that they were motivated by 1) Religious Pride, by 2) Cowardice, and by 3) Hypocrisy.
1) RELIGIOUS PRIDE: GALATIANS 6:12A
Galatians 6:12a [12]It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, (and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (ESV)
First of all the Judaizers were motivated by religious pride, want/desire to make a good showing in the flesh. Here the flesh has reference to the works of their humanness and self-effort apart from the Spirit. It represents external rites and ritual
• The verb (good showing) åὐðñïóùðÝù, found only here in the NT, means literally to present a good face, hence the translation to make a good showing or a good outward appearance (Witherington III, Ben: Grace in Galatia : A Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Grand Rapids, MI : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998, S. 446)
• They were not concerned about pleasing God by inward righteousness but about impressing other people by outward legalism.
• Think of the too frequent emphasis today on outward conformity. Too often people are totally preoccupied by the “circumcision” or “cutting away” of certain external practices (smoking, drinking and dancing) that they seem relatively unconcerned with inward change. It is far easier to keep impressive statistics about outward conformity, therefore we tend to focus on it: so many people came to church, so many people were baptized, so many people were well dressed and clean-cut, so many people voted for the right politician. What an impressive church! It is much harder to quantify the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25) (Hansen, G. Walter: Galatians. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1994 (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series), S. Ga 6:12)
• Since circumcision was the issue, the expression “in the flesh” was probably meant quite literally. Their concern for physical things had shoved aside any concern for spiritual things (Boles, Kenneth L.: Galatians & Ephesians. Joplin, Mo. : College Press, 1993 (The College Press NIV Commentary), S. Ga 6:12).
Please turn to Matthew 6
It was in regard to such demonstrations of religious pride that Jesus gave repeated warnings in the Sermon on the Mount. Concerning religious life in general, He said:
Matthew 6:1 [6:1]"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
In the Realm of giving:
Matthew 6:2 [2]"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (ESV)
Concerning prayer He warned
Matthew 6:5 [5]"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (ESV)
Please turn to Luke 18
Jesus gives examples of how a person’s faith can be expressed in a hypocritical way when giving to the needy (Mt. 6:2-4) praying (Mt. 6:5-15) and fasting (Mt. 6:16-18).
Luke 18:9-14 [9]He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: [10]"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11]The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12]I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ [13]But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ’God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ [14]I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (ESV)
We often deceive ourselves and are most often blind to our own hypocrisy. Everywhere in our culture we are told to take pride in something, and that type of things creeps into our mind and we can unwittingly speak of praising Christ, yet become proud in our own accomplishments.
Paul Warned:
Colossians 2:8 [8]See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (ESV)( cf. Col. 2:20).
The “human tradition” and “elementary sprits/principles of the world” referred not only to the outmoded ceremonial laws and rituals of the Old Covenant but to any external religious activity that is not “according to Christ,” that is, that originates in and exalts the flesh, rather than originates in the Spirit and exalts God.
Paul goes on to say:
Colossians 2:23 [23]These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)
To reinforce their own legalistic religiosity, the Judaizers also tried to force/compel others in the churches to be circumcised as a necessary element in obtaining salvation.
The word force/compel/constrain carries with it the idea of strong persuasion. While it does not mean “to force against one’s will,” it is still a strong word. It indicates that the Judaizers were great persuaders; they had a “sales talk” that convinced the Galatian believers that legalism was the way for them.
• Whenever Paul presented the Word, it was in truth and sincerity, and he used no oratorical tricks or debater’s skills. (See 1 Cor. 2:1–5 and 2 Cor. 4:1–5) (Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ga 6:12)
• If the presentation of the Gospel is just a “good showing” then when the deceptive tactics are revealed, the message and speaker loses credibility.
• The Gospel does not need to be presented like a sales pitch but in a lovingly and passionately truthful manner because it is the Holy Spirit that convicts and changes the heart.
A gruesome story from the Old Testament provides an analogy for the Judaizers’ activity. In 1 Sam 18 we read of David’s negotiations with Saul concerning Michal, Saul’s daughter, whom David desired to marry. The “price” Saul proposed for this marital dispensation was “a hundred Philistine foreskins.” Thus “David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage” (1 Sam 18:27). Figuratively, Paul’s opponents were doing the same thing David and his soldiers had done of old: presenting Gentile “foreskins” as a mark of their own success and ingenuity as representatives of the Jewish Christian establishment (George, Timothy: Galatians. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1994 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 30), S. 433)
WE HAVE SEEN THE MOTIVATION OF 1) RELIGIOUS PRIDE: GALATIANS 6:12A AND NOW:
2) COWARDICE: GALATIANS 6:12B
Galatians 6:12b [12] (It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised), and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (ESV)
The Judaizers not only were proud but cowardly. They advocated legalism to protect their lives and material welfare as well as to feed their fleshly egos. In order/simply that they may not be persecuted expresses their motive. They were not willing to pay the price of persecution in order to be identified with Jesus Christ. They would use His name and attend His church only if there was no offense to those around them. Most of such offense could be avoided if they denied the meaning of Christ’s death.
When used in a soteriological (salvation) context, as here in Galatians 6:12b, the cross does not refer to the pieces of wood on which Jesus was hung but to the entire work of divine redemption that His death on the cross accomplished.
It is not the fact that Jesus was crucified like a common criminal that is the offense of the cross, but the truth of the penal substitutionary atonement, which allows no place for human pride, status, or achievement.
Please turn to John 6
For that reason, the cross of Christ has always been an offense to the religions of works, “to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18-31 (23). Even before Jesus was crucified, the idea of His sacrificial death was repugnant to many Jews who had shown superficial interest in His teaching.
In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus declared:
John 6:55-66 [55]For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56]Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57]As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. [58]This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." [59]Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. [60]When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" [61]But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? [62]Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63]It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64]But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) [65]And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." [66]After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (ESV)
The Judaizers identified themselves with the church but not with the cross and therefore not truly with Christ. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah and proclaimed allegiance to Him, but they had no part in Him because they refused to receive His finished work on the cross on their behalf. Their trust was in their own human works, represented by circumcision, rather than in God’s provision of salvation by grace through the power of the cross of Christ. They wanted a Messiah to deliver them from their oppressors, but not a Savior to deliver them from their sins. They could handle that by themselves, they thought.
• The central message of what we have been studying in Galatians is that there is eternal life though faith in the atoning work of Christ alone.
• This concept must not stop at salvation however. As we have seen in Galatians 2:20, we are called to be crucified with Christ and that means we must accept whatever calling God has for us. We cannot go to God on our terms with our demands. Faith is going to God on His terms and forfeiting the sovereignty of our lives to His demands.
Because, even as professed Christians, the Judaizers continued to trust in themselves, and had no allegiance to the cross of Christ.
Their concern was for their safety, not their salvation, and they hoped that adherence to outward forms such as circumcision would minimize the offense to other Jews and to Gentiles and would thereby give them protection from persecution.
Because the redemptive work of the cross undercuts every human religious system of works righteousness, it is always a cause for offense and persecution. When Peter and the other apostles boldly preached the cross in Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders were “cut to the quick and were intending to slay them” (Acts 5:29–33). Throughout the book of Acts, Christians suffered the most severe opposition and persecution when they proclaimed the power of the cross. The Judaizers wanted no part of such suffering, indicating they had no genuine love for Christ and no desire to take up their own crosses and follow Him (see Matt. 10:38).
The Judaizers were like the seed in our Lord’s parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 that was sown in the rocky soil:
Matthew 13:20-21 [20]As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21]yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (ESV)
• The nature of this parable is to explain what we can see from a human perspective.
The Judaizers hoped that identifying themselves with the law of Moses would help them keep the protected status Jews they enjoyed in the Roman Empire. Because their leader had been crucified under Roman law, Christians were frequently under suspicion by Roman officials and often experienced harassment that Jews did not.
By teaching obedience to the Mosaic law and the rite of circumcision the Judaizers hoped to blunt criticism, alienation, and rejection by fellow Jews. A Jew who became a Christian was often subject to social ostracism and financial ruin. He was put out of the synagogue and often out of his own household. Fellow Jews refused to do business with him, and he often found it difficult to buy food and clothing even if he had money to pay for them.
• (Alienation from Swine Flu)
WE HAVE SEEN THE MOTIVATION OF 1) RELIGIOUS PRIDE: GALATIANS 6:12A,2) COWARDICE: GALATIANS 6:12B AND FINALLY:
3) HYPOCRISY: GALATIANS 6:13
Galatians 6:13 [13]For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (ESV)
The third reason the Judaizers gloried in the flesh was their hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is inseparable from cowardice, because if a person were not afraid of what other people might say or do, he would have no reason for pretending to be something he is not.
Quote: C.S. Lewis said: “Humans are very seldom either totally sincere or totally hypocritical. Their moods change, their motives are mixed, and they are often themselves quite mistaken as to what their motives are” (Barton, Bruce B.: Galatians. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House, 1994 (Life Application Bible Commentary), S. 215).
The Judaizers who were circumcised did not sincerely try to live by the standards of the Mosaic Law, much less by the power of the Holy Spirit. They were not even honest Jews, much less genuine Christians, Paul implies. Their religion was pure pretense, a sham display put on for the benefit of others. They performed the easy, outward surgery on each other, but never lived out the rest of God’s law.
The Judaizers were greatly concerned about making proselytes to their perverted form of the gospel, which was symbolized not by baptism but circumcision. They desire to have you circumcised, Paul told the Galatians, in order that they may boast in your flesh. Although they themselves never kept it, the Judaizers zealously worked to win converts to the Law, so they could brag about their effectiveness in gaining proselytes.
Quote: Hypocrisy is like a pin. It is pointed in one direction, and yet is headed in another (Michael P. Green: 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Books, 2000, S. 201)
The hypocrisy of the outward show can be a devastating thing:
Illustration: Joseph Stalin
Despite the mind-numbing brutality of the Joseph Stalin regime in the Soviet Union, his propaganda machine did its job well. Many Russians hailed him as a hero and a savior, including a young school girl who was chosen to greet Stalin on one occasion.
Years later, this woman recalled Stalin taking her onto his lap, smiling like a loving father. She was starry-eyed, and she cherished the moment for many years. Only later did she learn that during this period, Stalin had her parents arrested and sent to the labor camps, never to be seen again. (Today in the Word, October, 1997, p. 36.)
Please turn to Matthew 23
Since the time when Cain offered his unacceptable offering to the Lord, Humanity has used religion as a cover for his sin. As the Judaizers demonstrate, it is possible to be extremely active in the church and yet be morally and spiritually corrupt. Nowhere does it arouse God’s wrath more than where it is practiced in His name.
Jesus said:
Matthew 23:2-11 [2]"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, [3]so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [4]They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [5]They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, [6]and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [7]and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. [8]But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9]And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10]Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11]The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)
The greatest burden the scribes and Pharisees put on people’s shoulders was the unbearable burden of salvation by works. Because of their hypocrisy, it was no great burden to those religious leaders, but to the conscientious Jew it was unimaginably frustrating and hopeless. He found himself under the relentless demands of law upon law, tradition upon tradition, ceremony upon ceremony-so many of them that he could not even know about them all, much less keep them all.
• (vs. 5-7) They did everything possible to call attention to themselves, glorying in the recognition and praise they received because of their positions, titles, and converts.
• (Vs. 8-10) They honored and pleased themselves, but they dishonored and displeased God, who hates pride and loves humility.
• The greatest among the followers of Jesus Christ are those who, as servants (v. 11), help others carry their burdens.
Throughout the rest of that chapter in Matthew (vv. 13–31), Jesus continues to condemn the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He condemns them for exalting themselves, for shutting people out of the kingdom by their legalism, for making pretentious but insincere prayers, for making loopholes to escape the keeping of vows, for being meticulous about tithing herbs but neglecting justice and mercy and faithfulness, for being careful to appear clean on the outside of their lives but of having no concern for inward holiness, and for building tombs to the prophets they had murdered. All of those religious ideas and activities were designed to build pride and cover sin, to boast in the flesh.
To boast in the flesh signifies pride, please, satisfaction, rejoicing and exultation. It suggests that the heart and mind are so taken up with the object of glorification that a person is all but lost in its contemplation (Edgar H. Andrews. Galatians: Free in Christ. Welwyn Commentary Series. Evangelical Press. 1996. p.325).
Please turn to 2 Timothy 3
As the end times draw nearer, religious hypocrisy, like every other sin, will increase. Paul warned Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 [3:1]But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2]For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3]heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4]treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5]having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (ESV)
(Format Note: Outline & some base commentary from: MacArthur, J. (1996, c1987). Galatians. Includes indexes. (193). Chicago: Moody Press.)
