Does The Apostle Paul Really Think That The Law Is Weak and Beggarly?
IS PAUL FOR OR AGAINST THE LAW, OR CONFLICTED ?
Most think Paul was against the Old Testament Laws of God. They misunderstand the epistle to the Galatians so badly that they use it to undermine some of the laws of God today. They do this so they can dismiss any law that is not convenient to present day practices. They wish to ignore the seventh day Sabbath and Holy Days and use images and icons. What verses can they conveniently misunderstand? - Gal. 4:9-10.
Galatians 4:9 NKJV 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Would the Apostle Paul dare call God's Laws weak and beggarly? Admittedly, Paul is a deep thinker and is not easily understood especially in regard to worldly, ulterior motives. First, does Paul really believe that God's Laws, as revealed in the Bible, are beggarly or bankrupt as one translator puts it? Absolute not!
Romans 7:12 NKJV 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 1 John 5:3 NKJV 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Is this a contradiction; in no way! Paul is not contradicting himself! Most just do not understand Paul. Clearly, Paul is not contradicting himself, he kept the Holy Days. So what is his main point in the letter to the Galatian congregation? What was Paul's greatest worry concerning the law and those new babes in Christ? Paul feared they were being seduced by the Judaizing party to take a different approach to salvation.
WHAT APOSTASY WERE THE JUDAIZERS EXPOUNDING AND WHY ?
Those pushing the apostasy originally were Jews who did not accept the idea of so many gentiles freely coming into worship of the true God with them. They were still caught up in a self righteous approach to God. God's Laws are wonderful if one administers them properly. But they can be used improperly. Paul said as much.
1 Timothy 1:6-8 NKJV 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
Paul makes it abundantly clear that trouble makers with limited true understanding of God were using the law unlawfully. How can someone misuse God's righteous laws ? We can look at the Sabbath example.
Mark 2:24-27 NKJV 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 "how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
The leaders of Judea had added over 600 regulations regarding the Sabbath. Their rules regarding what defined harvesting could thereby condemn inappropriately, the disciples actions. The leaders did not understand that the Sabbath was meant to help mankind. Instead they over regulated so it became a burden to the people. This is the kind of thinking that Paul was opposing in Galatians 4:10; the harsh ascetic administration of the law, not the law itself. These extra regulations are condemned. The Judaizers were teaching earning salvation with the help of all their regulations and not appreciating the grace of Christ. We believers are not under the indictment of the law but under the forgiving grace of Christ. This of course, does not mean the law is bad or should not be obeyed. It would be silly to tell someone you have a pardon for robbing the bank. You can live under that pardon for the 5th Street bank robbery last month all your life and can now rob any bank you want anytime you feel need for money. Pardon and grace are never taken with that understanding. We could never earn our own salvation unless we were perfect all the time. No one can be perfect all the time.
Galatians 3:9-10 NKJV 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
Paul made this point in this very letter in the next few lines, the law is not bad or in the way of grace.
Galatians 3:21-22 NKJV 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Paul explains that all of us need grace and faith in Jesus Christ. The Judaizers wanted these gentiles to trust too much on zealous law keeping using many Pharisaical regulations to save themselves.
Luke 18:9-12 NKJV 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
Jesus warned against this kind of self-righteous thinking that some of the scribes and Pharisees were living. This picky over regulation of worship of God was spiritually undermining and enslaving them.
MATURE FREE OBEDIENCE, VERSUS RELIGIOUS ENSLAVEMENT
Paul tells them that they should not be religious slaves like worshipers in Jerusalem were, but free and mature individuals who no longer need a tutor or governess.
Galatians 4:25-31 NKJV 25 ...to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Paul is saying if you become circumcised you are now playing their game, the earn your salvation game. It is one of trying to save our selves by our own efforts. We are saved by Jesus! It is trying to be very Godly in the wrong manner. This kind of religious administration Christ condemned as bondage.
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Much of the leadership in Judaism kept the people under heavy burdens; Jesus came to free them. Paul is trying to keep the Galatians from being ensnared into this kind of bondage.
Galatians 2:3-5 NKJV 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
Paul explains thattheir secret agenda is to bring the church into bondage like the Jews in Jerusalem. He explains that circumcision of the heart is all that is needed for adult gentiles. Paul is giving them a deeper, more spiritual understanding of God's Laws. The opposition had another sinister motive. These Judaizers wanted to keep the worship of God primarily within a Jewish world. They were shocked to see vast numbers of raw gentiles being converted away from paganism to the truth by Paul's missionary work. They realized that if they required circumcision it would limit the number of pagan gentile converts.
Galatians 2:5 NKJV 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
WHAT ARE THE WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS ?
Paul is trying to protect both the Jewish and gentile members of the church from the bondage of human over regulations. Both Jewish and pagan leaders were influenced by ascetic thinking. Paul is warning the gentiles to not let themselves be pulled back into bondage similar to what they had experienced in the past. Both pagans and Judaizers used extreme self sacrificing to impress God. Paul does not want them to go back to any version of this kind of religious bondage. Paul asserts that Christ alone can save us. We have our part to play, of course, but zeal can be misguided. Jews like pagans were influenced by asceticism. Pagans suffered under evil superstitions and Jews in the name of religious purity. However; the gentiles were deceived but some Jews acted maliciously just to keep gentiles out of the truth.
Colossians 2:20-22 NKJV 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Pagans and Jews both were enslaved to the traditions and regulations of men, not God's true ways.
Mark 7:7-9 NKJV 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 "For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
Paul loves God's Laws, when properly applied, and is trying to save the people from enslavement again to fear and bullying over regulations religion.Circumcision leads gentiles to the wrong system of justification period.
