Galatians 6.11-14
“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 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. 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.”
As was typical in the ancient world, it was Paul’s custom to dictate his letters to a secretary. However, he would often personally write a short message at the end for the dual purpose of authenticating the letter and adding a personal touch. Paul makes a point that he wrote his postscript with large letters. Some speculate this was because he had poor eyesight and could not read or write small print. It is more likely that he made the letters large simply for emphasis. It was his version of bold/italics or ALL CAPS.
So it would appear that Paul takes the pen in hand and personally writes the final installment of the letter to the Galatians using his own distinctive, large-letter style. In this final section the apostle describes the two different mindsets that are the primary focus throughout the letter. The first mindset is self-centered, legalistic, and wrong. The second mindset is Christ-centered, grace-oriented, and true.
The self-centered, legalistic mindset is described in verses 12 and 13. This is the mindset of people who use the law as a vehicle for spiritual pride and power. The Judaizers, as you will recall, claimed that in order to be saved you must believe in Jesus and follow the law. Thus they tried to compel the Galatian Christians to be circumcised according to the law.
Paul exposes the twofold motive of the Judaizers. In verse 12 he says: “They compel you to be circumcised that they might not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.” Then in verse 13 he says, “They desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.” In other words, their motive was a) fear of being persecuted and b) the desire to appear spiritual.
The apostle is warning us against religious leaders who are motivated by fear of opposition and love of praise. These are people who are deeply self-centered, and who use religion to pursue their own agenda. If your mindset is governed by the fear of being rejected and the love of being praised, you will not embrace the true Christ. You might be religious, but you are not in relationship to Jesus.
The legalists pretended to be motivated out of concern for the ones they tried to bring under the law. But Paul saw through this deception and recognized that their motive was really selfish, simply desiring the honor and glory of appearing spiritual. They wanted the Galatians to become circumcised so they could wear the submission of these Gentiles as a badge of achievement.
Beyond their own glory, their other motive was to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. If these legalists had said, “We are saved only by the work of the cross of Christ, not by our obedience under the law,” they would have been persecuted. The persecution would have come from other legalistic Christians or from those still in Judaism. It would also have come from Rome, as the growing Christian faith was viewed by the Romans as a threat, whereas Judaism was a traditional, indigenous religion that was protected by the Romans. The Judaizers unwillingness to stand in the face of this pressure contributed to their proclamation of false doctrine.
And most telling was the fact that the Judaizers themselves didn’t keep the law. They were hypocrites. “For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law.” There were many standards and elements of the law that they didn’t keep, nor could they, because they were sinners in need of the grace of God.
Jesus denounced this kind of hypocrisy in very strong terms: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
History is replete with religious leaders who proclaimed but did not practice. These were people who sought religion as a way to establish power and enjoy prestige, but were not truly committed to the principles they were preaching. Sadly, we see the same thing with many government leaders and business leaders. To have credibility as a leader, you must practice what you preach. Hypocrisy is a culture killer.
Credibility in a leadership role begins with living the standards you create for the people you lead. It’s a simple and universal rule for anyone with authority: principles apply to those who make them. It makes you credible, keeps you grounded, requires your involvement, and prevents you from expecting from others what you’re unwilling to do yourself.
The Judaizers proclaimed the law because it gave them power. They rejected the cross because it required humility. The cross of Christ is a great stumbling block for people who will not humble themselves before God and who seek the approval of man. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God … For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-23)
The truth of Christ crucified strips us of all merit and reveals our utter dependence on God’s grace and mercy. The truth of Christ crucified vividly displays what our sin really deserved. At the foot of the cross it is impossible to be arrogant.
For those who do not acknowledge their sin and who don’t want to humble themselves before God, the cross is an offense and a scandal. For those who trust in Jesus, the cross is new life.
