College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Galatians 5:13-15
B.
LIMITATIONS AND POWER OF FREEDOM Galatians 5:13-26
1.
No fleshly License Galatians 5:13-15
TEXT 5:13-15
(13) For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. (14) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
PARAPHRASE 5:13-15
13 Now ye, brethren, have been called by the gospel into freedom from the law of Moses as the rule of your justification. Nevertheless, use not this liberty as a pretext for gratifying those appetites, and exercising those passions, which have their seat in the flesh. But, agreeably to the law of Christ, assiduously serve one another in all things innocent.
14 They who stickle for the law ought to be zealous in the offices of love. For the whole law, as it respects our neighbour, is fulfilled by obeying one precept, even this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as sincerely as thou lovest thyself.
15 But, if, from your zeal for, or your zeal against the law of Moses, ye wound and destroy one another's characters, have a care lest ye bring everlasting destruction on one another.
COMMENT 5:13
For ye, brethren
1.
Paul called the Galatian Christian converts brethren even though he speaks strongly against their false teachers.
a.
How long could they apostatize and be brethren?
b.
Who among the sects, denominations, and division are our brethren?
c.
How wrong must a Christian be to be out of the fellowship as a brother?
d.
Is the follower of a false teacher a brother, while the false teacher is not to be considered so?
e.
The problem of fellowship is not easily settled.
2.
There are times when lines are to be drawn.
Anathema. Cf. Galatians 1:8-9
receive him not into your house. Cf. 2 John 1:10
were called for freedom
1.
A freedom from the burdensome rites and ceremonies of the law. Galatians 5:1
2.
Freedom from the captivity of sin. Romans 6:18
a.
A Christian is the only free person.
b.
God does not want us to be like Adam and Eve, hiding from him.
3.
Freedom from death. Romans 8:2
only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh
1.
The devil would turn freedom to licentiousness.
a.
The flesh reasons If we are without the law, we may as well indulge.
b.
For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness. Jude 1:4
c.
Not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness. 1 Peter 2:16
2.
Freedom is not given for a person to act without restraint.
but through love be servants one to another
1.
Folks want to be important; here is the way.
a.
Whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant. Matthew 20:27
b.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11
c.
Good and faithful servant. enter thou into the joy. Matthew 25:21
2.
This is a debt.
Owe no man anything, save to love one another.
COMMENT 5:14
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, love (Leviticus 19:18)
1.
People get worked up over ceremoniesrituals, when one word carefully carried out, is worth all the ritual possible.
a.
Leave off all this foolishness and get down to business.
b.
One thing will fulfill all the lawlove.
2.
This new commandment sounds short and easy.
a.
It is never accomplishedamong men.
b.
Loving wayward men is not easily accomplished.
c.
Intolerance for sin is sometimes accompanied by intolerance for the sinner.
as thyself
1.
You can-'t find a nearer example than yourself.
2.
If you were in trouble you know how you would want to be treated.
COMMENT 5:15
But if ye bite and devour one another
1.
When the one faith in Christ is overthrown, peace and unity come to an end in the church.
a.
Instead of being motivated by love, jealousy and strife prevail.
b.
Backbiters are condemned by the Word: Romans 1:30; Proverbs 25:23; 2 Corinthians 12:20
2.
False teaching causes strife, etc. Cf. 2 Timothy 2:23, 1 Timothy 6:4
take heed that ye be not consumed one of another
1.
Nothing is so destructive as religious disputes.
a.
Both groups feel they are on God's side and the other is possessed of the devil.
b.
Both have invested time and money and they do not want to see it turned to the enemy's advantage.
2.
It consumes like a fire until Christians who are to give reasonable service become unreasonable.
3.
The Church's greatest enemy is itself.
BITING AND DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER 5:15
We Christian people must not be like dogs and wolves. Dogs bite and run away. Wolves devour and destroy.
When we read the warning in Galatians 5:15 against biting and devouring one another, we must realize that it is in the area of conversation that we bite. We are being warned with a flashing light that there is danger when we depart from talking with love, kindness, longsuffering, concern, compassion, and a desire to help rather than to hinder others.
Harm can take place in an evening's careless conversation as doubts and bitterness, gossip and criticism poison people against brethren.
We are responsible for our use of our time, and perhaps doubly so for our use of other people's time. If we start a rumor, or continue one, we have taken unfair advantage of time that should have been given to exhortation to love and to good works.
One of the greatest faults of false teaching is what it does to brethren. Men fight over words and opinions and when the church is divided, it is a disgrace to God and in the community.
It is foolish to say, it doesn-'t make any difference what you believe, just as long as you are sincere. Division is sinful. Human doctrines divide people.
Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:14, Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. I think Paul is talking about conversation and peripheral questions that use up time during which the hearers need some positive help. He is warning all of us who are children of the living God to show forth our love and compassion for one another and for the lost ones of the world when we sit conversing, and asking questions. He goes on to urge and command in Galatians 5:23-24; Galatians 5:26 :
Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
There is to be a positive result in conversation and in question-and-answer times, as well as in teaching and preaching times.
STUDY QUESTIONS 5:13-15
669.
Paul again emphasized freedom. Does he mean freedom from burdensome rites?
670.
Were they in danger of misunderstanding freedom?
671.
Do people tend to lawlessness if you free them from law?
672.
Compare 1 Peter 2:16 on this subject.
673.
Is freedom for people with restraint or without it?
674.
What influence should restrain us?
675.
If love is our motive what will a man do?
676.
If a person breaks fellowship in acceptance of false teaching, is he serving his brethren in love?
677.
What one law is worth more than all the rituals and ceremonies combined?
678.
What one word fulfills all the law?
679.
Did Christ fulfill the law?
680.
Are you able to do it? Do you love your neighbors, friends, relatives, enemies?
681.
Is intolerance for sin often accompanied by intolerance for sinners too?
682.
Do you consider yourself a good example of how all men would like to be treated?
683.
Is this commandment one of the ten commandments?
684.
Is this commandment as easy as it is short?
685.
Was Peter demonstrating the commandment when he severed fellowship?
686.
Was Paul showing love when he withstood Peter face to face?
687.
Does love require sternness as well as warmth?
688.
How do people bite and devour without being cannibals?
689.
Where is this spirit condemned?
690.
Will the motive of love destroy this sin?
691.
How consuming is a church fight?
692.
Is the innocent party to be careful too?
693.
Do you feel that a church may be its own worst enemy?