In Galatians 4, Paul reminds the Galatian believers again of how important it is for them to live into their freedom rather than subjecting themselves again to the Law. He uses a couple of illustrations, the first about an “heir” being the same as a slave until reaching the age of maturity, and then of the difference between Sarah and Hagar. Again, Paul uses mainly Jewish images, even though the Galatian believers came primarily from a Gentile background. He wanted them to understand how important it was for them not to align themselves with the Judaizers, because to do so would be to give up the freedom they received through being born anew in Jesus.
Galatians 5 offers us an important qualification to what Paul has been writing. While he wanted the Galatians to live in freedom, he reminded them not to let that freedom become an opportunity for the flesh or the sinful nature. In other words, we are set free from the Law by the blood of Jesus, and our new life in the Holy Spirit is a life of freedom, but that freedom is not to do whatever we want to do. It is a freedom to live in alignment with the Holy Spirit’s leading. Paul went on to tell the Galatians, and through them, us of the struggle we face as Jesus’ followers. The struggle is a war between the Holy Spirit and the flesh or sinful nature. That battle continues throughout our lives and means we aren’t free to do what we want. Paul concludes by saying when we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the Law, that is we don’t need the Law to guide us, because the Holy Spirit leads us to do what Jesus wants. Paul concludes the chapter by listing the deeds or “fruits” of the flesh, which includes a long list of sinful behaviors. He tells us when we live this way, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. He then says the better way is to live according to the “fruit” of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As Jesus followers, we have “nailed” the sinful nature to the cross and are now free to live in the Spirit’s power.
Galatians 6 offers Paul’s closing reminders of what it means to live in fellowship with one another as Jesus’ followers who are led by the Holy Spirit: we are to help each other out of sin; we are to sow goodness and blessing, because we will reap what we sow; and we are to persevere in doing good, because we will reap a harvest if we don’t “faint.” Paul offers one more closing volley against the Judaizers, reminding the Galatians that circumcision of the flesh means nothing, and to remain faithful to doing God’s will. Paul reminds the Galatians he bears in his flesh the marks of Christ, that is the scars from the beatings he received as a result of proclaiming Jesus. This is one final reminder of Paul’s credibility and evidence they ought to trust him rather than the Judaizers.
As we return to Matthew 27, we read again of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, of Judas hanging himself, of Pilate finding Jesus not guilty, but listening to the crowd and turning Jesus over to be crucified. We read of Jesus going to Golgatha and being crucified. People mock Him, Jesus cries out at being abandoned by His Father, and dies. Jesus is buried in Joseph’s tomb, and the religious leaders ask Pilate to post a guard so no one could steal Jesus’ body. If that were the end of the Gospel of Matthew, we would have the tragic story of a Jewish martyr, a good man, but nothing more. Thankfully, we will read Matthew 28 tomorrow!