Galatians 2:14-15 Do Not Burden Other Believers, For We Have Liberty in Christ

Galatians 2:14-15 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews. We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;”

Paul had a great concern for the purity of the gospel; his own presentation of it and that of all other evangelists. So when Peter (Cephas) and the other Jews with him failed to present the gospel completely accurate, he confronted their flag-bearer, Peter. Paul knew the necessity of a pure gospel. If the gospel were not presented correctly, it would not come with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit and would fall dormant upon deaf ears, or would lead only to death as people sought to establish their own righteousness based upon their keeping of the Law.

We can make a vital theological assertion here: the apostles were not infallible in themselves. Rather, the apostles were only infallible when they were writing Scripture, as it is Scripture which comes with the authority of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Now, if the apostles (the pillars and foundations of the church—cf. Ephesians 2:20) were not infallible in and of themselves, we should not consider the words of any person, no matter what their prestige and character, an infallible source. This goes for everyone from the Pope to Benny Hinn. We must weigh the words of man against Scripture to find if they line up.

To make his point clear to Peter, Paul turns sarcastic. By nature Paul and Peter are Jews, and so they have the Law. They are not like the Gentiles, living in sin. Rather, they are perfect.[1] So, that being the case, they should not be putting the same conditions upon the sinful Gentiles that they themselves are able to bear because the Gentiles, being sinful, will in no way be able to live by those demands.

As a Jew, however, Peter was not even living by those standards. He was walking in the freedom he received in Christ. This liberty belonged to Peter only in Christ, not under the Law. Peter, as well as all Jews, are condemned as sinners under the Law just as the Gentiles are (cf. Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:9). Paul’s caustic indictment of Peter was sure to lead him to realize that he was saved by grace, not by works, just as the Gentiles. Jews could not keep the Law, so how could they expect the Gentiles to do so? So for Peter, or anyone else to put such burdens upon the Gentile Christians was an outrage to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gentiles were given the same freedoms as the Jews.

Let this rule your conduct and speech, brothers and sisters. Do not burden others, especially those less mature in the faith, with things that are not essential to spiritual life and godliness. Teach them the foundations of the faith and how to live a godly life. Remember from where you came (sinfulness) and to where you are heading (everlasting life). Let this be your guide on how you instruct and admonish those of whom you are overseers of whatever degree; whether children, wife, church, or business.

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[1] It is clear that Paul is being sarcastic about the Jews being without sin because this clearly conflicts with his theology and teaching everywhere else. Cf. Romans chapter 3.