Devoted to the Enemy
Good Morning,
Paul had some physical troubles, but these people loved him and learned the Gospel from him.
Galatians 4:13 “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.”
vs. 14 “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.”
They treated Paul as if he were an angel.
They so loved Paul, that they would have given him one of their eyes (perhaps indicating that his physical trouble was eyesight). Whatever his ailment was, they loved him, they learned from him, and they were devoted to him.
Galatians 4:15 “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”
Along came a person, a critic who elevated himself to demean Paul. Notice the word some in Galatians 1:7, the word him in verse 8, the word who in Galatians 3:1, and the word they in Galatians 4:17. Paul makes it clear that someone had come into their lives who had not led them to Christ, and who had not taught them the Word of God for long periods of time. That someone had turned them from the truth, and Paul was very unhappy about it!
Galatians 4:16 “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”
vs. 17 “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.”
"They" had been zealous and no one would have expected them to have been outwardly demonic, vile, and corrupt. These zealous people were subtile and underhanded; Paul called them "ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:15).
The ones who were devoted had been turned into destroyers. The people who owed Paul their lives were turned against him and against the Word of God at the same time.
The greatest tragedies I have seen in nearly fifty years of serving the Lord have been rooted in a "who" that came along and turned good people from their parents, their church, or their faithful friends – all to whom they owed much. Do not think the work of Satan has changed with the centuries; that which worked in Galatia continues to work today.
Be careful who gets your head and heart, they often have hidden agendas, and you will be the one who suffers.
Pastor