Galatians Reading (#15)

Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Galatians 5:7-15

[5:7] You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? [8] This persuasion is not from him who calls you. [9] A little leaven leavens the whole lump. [10] I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. [11] But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. [12] I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

[13] For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 

Observation:

• What had characterized the Galatians previously (v 7)? What question does Paul ask (v 7)?
• What does Paul tell them about “this persuasion” (v 8)?
• What effect does “a little leaven” have (v 9)?
• Paul has confidence about two things (v 10).
  • What are they?
  • In whom is his confidence?
• What question does Paul ask in v 11? What does he want the people who are troubling them to do (v 12)?
• What should the brothers use their freedom for (v 13)? What should they not use it for?
• How is the whole law fulfilled (v 14)?
• What might happen if they “bite and devour one another” (v 15)?

Interpretation:

• What does Paul mean when he says that the Galatians had been “running” well? In what sense were they running? How does the question that Paul asks at the end of verse 7 help us to understand what he means by “running well”?
•  What is “this persuasion”? What does it mean that it does not come from “him who calls you”? Who is Paul talking about?
• How is v 9 a warning to the Galatians?
• What does Paul assume about the reason that he is being persecuted (v 11)? What is the deal with v 12?
• How’s does Paul’s understanding of the fulfillment of the law (v 14) differ from the way that the Judaizers thought the law should be fulfilled?
• Why might they be tempted to use their freedom as an opportunity for the flesh? 
  • How is that the opposite of loving and serving one another?
  • How does that relate to Paul’s warning not to bite and devour one another? How was that happening in the church in Galatia? 

Application:

• Are there any ways that you are indulging the flesh? How is that less than the true freedom that Christ has called you to?
• How might you be tempted to “bite and devour” others in the church? How can you show love to your brothers and sisters instead this week?

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