(REFLECTIONS ON Galatians 2:11-21)

We are reminded today as Paul opposes Peter that it isn’t enough that Peter was a disciple of Jesus, a friend of Jesus, by Jesus’ side during His ministry on earth, if he doesn’t live out the Gospel in his daily life. Gospel living isn’t just about the content we share, or even the faith we believe, but about actually doing what we say we should do. Is it easy? No, it isn’t easy, if it were easy then someone that was so close to Jesus, like Peter, wouldn’t have struggled with so much with it.

Paul writes,

11 When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter knew the Gospel, believed in the Gospel, and was trying to live by the Gospel, but he was afraid when the Jews came from Jerusalem. This group of Jews believed that only those that followed the Jewish Law and were circumcised could be saved. They came to oppose the Gentiles believers, and rather than bring a flag of unity, wanted to deliver a sword of division.

So they came, preaching this “different gospel” to try to convert believers to the ways of Jewish Law. Peter because of his fear began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles. The Gospel that should unite, bring people together under Christ as brothers and sisters, was being used to separate and this is the hypocrisy that Paul warns us about.

For Paul, following Christ meant that the world would no longer dictate how he lives, what he lives for, and would no longer pressure him to act a certain way or another. For Paul, unlike Peter, fear would not be an excuse for hypocrisy.

Paul writes,

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live in faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Paul saw his life crucified on the cross just as Jesus was crucified on the cross. Being crucified on the cross represents doing God’s will over succumbing to the pressures and fears of the world. No longer did Paul live, but the Christ that was willing to experience embarrassment and pain on the cross for the world lived in him. This is the Gospel life that Paul was determined to live.

Have we been crucified with Christ on the cross? Is our life still ours, or is it Christ that lives in us? Will we let fear of the world influence our ability to live out our faith? May today’s Scripture help us to consider our ways, and help us as we struggle to not only know what we believe, say what we believe, but more importantly live by what we believe.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Galatians 2