Monday, March 24, 2025
Paul’s Concern - Galatians 4:12-20 Submitted by Kay Crumley
There are times when we are so very concerned about a loved one’s needs that we become angry or very forceful with our words and attitudes. That is how Paul seems to be feeling in this passage. He expressed his frustration with them. He restated the truth that he had preached to them. In verse 7 of Chapter four he reminded them they are no longer slaves to sin but are now sons of God, adopted into His Kingdom making the heirs to His promises. But then in verse 11 he expressed his fear that his work with them had been in vain as they are being persuaded by the Judaizers to follow the law for their position with God rather than trust in the new covenant of Jesus.
He is not begging them to follow his example and reminds them how important they have been to him in his time of need. He wants them to be like him, to follow his example.
12 I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; 13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?
Paul was trained as a Pharisee, he was one of the best educated Jewish leaders he could be but gave that up to be like a Gentile in that he no longer followed the Jewish laws, rituals, and traditions. He is living under the new covenant, the true Gospel that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and that His death and resurrection is the path to forgiveness so that we can become children of God, one in the family of God. When he first came to them, they took him in even with a physical malady, treated his condition, and behaved as an angel of God in restoring his health. They would have done anything for him to help him heal. Yet now they have turned to following false teaching.
Paul is teaching them that these false teachers, the men who are leading the astray does NOT have their best interests at heart. They are working against Paul to stir division between Paul and the Galatian believers.
17 They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18 But it is always good to be pursued in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
The false teachers have selfish intent rather than love for them as Paul did. They want to be honored for turning these believers in the gospel away from that faith and to instruct them to trust in the Jewish laws and traditions for their salvation. Those are actions that man can take in their own strength. These are works rather than faith. Paul is like a parent to these believers. He likens his emotions as if he were starting over from the beginning with them as a mother would with labor pains.
Finally, we see Paul’s heart as he regrets having to be so harsh in his correction with them but since he isn’t there, he doesn’t have any other course of action. He is hurting for them and angry with those who would lead them away from the true Gospel.
We can fall into similar behaviors if we are not grounded in truth. The way for us to have that steadfastness is to spend time in God’s Word, seek Spiritual leaders/advisors, and pray for wisdom. James 1:5 reminds us of the way to have wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. That is available to all believers.
