Galatians 4:16 Commentary and Bible Study

How painful it was to the apostle that those who once loved him so deeply had become suspicious and even hostile towards him, because of the poisonous words of the Judaizers which they had allowed to enter their hearts! They should have been prepared for such an attack on their faith, and they ought to have been able to withstand it, for they possessed all necessary armour to defend them. Their failure to do so was entirely their fault, but it caused Paul much sorrow. The only way that they could be restored was by returning to the truth of the gospel and realising how foolish they had been to mistrust the Lord’s messenger. He does not flatter them by minimising the extent of their fall, but states plainly their departure from their former position of trust. When there is a rift between God’s people the first step towards reconciliation is the acknowledgement of the seriousness of the division. In this case, of course, it was the Galatians who were entirely responsible, and it was they and not Paul who needed to change. But what a fall this was. How had it come about that they were suspicious of his message? Strangely, it had happened even though Paul was still teaching the same message which they had received so gladly at first. It was not Paul but the Galatians who had shifted their position. They must start to have some insight into what was happening. The one who speaks the truth (in love) has the right to expect to be believed – he cannot do greater good to others than to speak truth to their souls. This is the case even when he admonishes them. But if the truth causes resentment, then certainly Satan has been at work to plant prejudice in the heart. Yet even now Paul hoped to win them back.