Galatians 2:16 Commentary and Bible Study

It is clear that, in using the phrase ‘we who are Jews’, Paul has been speaking of himself and Peter not simply as Jews, but as Jews who had believed in Christ. As such, they both knew something: they knew that a man cannot be justified by works of the law. This had initially been a matter of astonishment to them for it was so contrary to all they had been taught from childhood. At one time it had been their highest boast that they kept the law, and since the law can only justify through personal obedience their confidence had in reality been in themselves: in their ability to keep the law. Paul, as a Pharisee, had been scrupulous about keeping the minutiae of the law, including many additions to the ceremonial law which the Pharisees prided themselves in. Peter too had trusted in his Jewish descent, but both of them had learned that none of this counted for anything with God. What they sought by all these works was justification, but this they never obtained. Always their consciences found fault with what they did, so that they were never able to arrive at a state of peace with God. The law can never pronounce a man justified till he has completed the last act of his life, but it can pronounce him condemned after he has completed the first act of his life. All the fasting and tithes, all the observation of feast days, all the sacrifices in the temple could not bring justification and relief to a troubled conscience. But without justification the soul can have no rest, for its eternal destiny is left in suspense. Having understood that justification is found only in Christ, Peter and Paul had been happy to abandon the law, like those who find rest from a burdensome and futile task. Their abandoning the law was not simply an admission of personal failure, but a realization that justification is not possible by the law - ‘for by the works of the law shall no flesh shall be justified’.