Galatians 2:11-14 (WEL) But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him face to face because he was clearly wrong. 12 Before some men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, being afraid of those of the circumcision. 13 Then the other Jews acted as hypocrites with him, so that even Barnabas yielded to their hypocrisy. 14 But when I became aware that they were not acting uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you force the Gentiles to live like the Jews?”
V11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him face to face because he was clearly wrong.
This is Syrian Antioch. In Acts 15, the Great Jerusalem council was held to decide if Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow Mosaic Law. The decision was that Gentiles do not need to do these things to be saved. Salvation is by faith alone. Peter as an Apostle knew that but slipped with the fear of man as we see in the next verse. All succumb to the fear of man at times, and we do need a gentle rebuke and reminder of God’s laws. The Apostles of Jesus Christ had the authority to bind and loose, that is, to make decisions regarding doctrine. Peter knew but failed. God help us all.
Warren W. Wiersbe comments:
“Before we criticize Peter, perhaps we had better examine our own lives to see how many familiar Bible doctrines we are actually obeying. As you examine church history, you see that, even with a complete Bible, believers through the years have been slow to believe and practice the truths of the Christian faith. When we think of the persecution and discrimination that have been practiced in the name of Christ, it embarrasses us. It is one thing for us to defend a doctrine in a church meeting, and quite something else to put it into practice in everyday life.”
V12 Before some men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, being afraid of those of the circumcision.
Peter slipped back into following Mosaic Law. Notice how Peter’s decision and actions affected others.
Unfortunately, Peter was a hypocrite, acting and talking one way and in a different situation, doing the opposite.
V13 Then the other Jews acted as hypocrites with him, so that even Barnabas yielded to their hypocrisy.
Peter was an Apostle of Jesus and thus carried great responsibility for his actions and words.
Matthew Henry comments:
“Here note, (1.) The weakness and inconstancy of the best of men, when left to themselves, and how apt they are to falter in their duty to God, out of an undue regard to the pleasing of men. And, (2.) The great force of bad examples, especially the examples of great men and good men, such as are in reputation for wisdom and honour.”
V14 But when I became aware that they were not acting uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you force the Gentiles to live like the Jews?”
The Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) supersedes Mosaic Law. Compare Hebrews 7:11-12, Hebrews 7:19, and Hebrews 8:13.
We learn:
- Good men fail.
- The Mosaic Law is not the law to be saved by or lived by.
Questions:
- Have you ever failed?
- Do you still obey parts of the Old Testament law to be righteous?