Galatians 5:9-12 — The Yeast Beast

READ THIS: Galatians 5:9-12

9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
 
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Yesterday we spoke about how we can start off really strong for Jesus but then get distracted. The Galatians got distracted from Jesus by the idea of following the law (like by getting circumcised). A little yeast changes dough entirely. With yeast, bread gets all big and puffy. Without it, it stays flat. Paul is saying that insisting that the law is still important for being right with God is changing everything about the good news of Jesus...in a bad way. 

As Christians, we are supposed to share the good news, not make the good news into something it's not, which is why Paul is so angry at the people (the Judaizers) who were pushing the law on people who didn't need to follow it. Paul in verse 11 makes it clear through sarcasm that he is not telling people to get circumcised. If he were, then he would not be persecuted because he wouldn't be teaching about the power of Jesus on the cross. The Judaizers were pretending like they were preaching the gospel when they weren't, leading Paul to be so angry that he makes his aggressive comment in verse 12. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Have you ever heard someone say that people need to do something beyond believing in Jesus to be able to have the Holy Spirit and be with God in Heaven? How did/would that make you feel?

2. Why does Paul get persecuted (get attacked) for talking about Jesus? Why do people today get attacked for talking about Jesus?
 
TRY THIS:

Make a comment about Jesus in a conversation today! Just in a natural way (like "oh, shoot, that reminds me of when Jesus got super mad at the Pharisees," or "mmm I don't want to do that, but Jesus said go the extra mile, so I guess I will") and see if anyone looks at you funny. Think about why that might be someone's reaction. 

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