Don't Be Led Astray
Galations 2: 11-14

Following is the reading of Galatians 2: 11-14 from the KJV, NAS, and NIV versions of the Bible. The reader is encouraged to compare the versions for a better understanding of what is taught in these scriptures. (A discussion of these scriptures will follow.)

King James Version	New American Standard	New International Version
Galatians 2: 11-14	Galatians 2: 11-14	Galatians 2: 11-14
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I with-stood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.	11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned	11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.	12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.	12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who be-longed to the circumcision group.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.	13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.	13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?	14 But when I saw that they were not straight-forward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?	14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

Don't Lead Others Astray

(Our Responsibility to Others)

Verse 11 says that Paul "withstood" (or, "opposed") Peter to his face. Why? "Because he was to be blamed." ("because he stood condemned" NAS; "because he was clearly in the wrong" NIV.)

Notice that Paul did not go behind Peter's back and whisper his condemnation of Peter. He did not undermine the influence of Peter by slandering him. Instead, Paul's reproof was addressed to Peter as the offender. It was done openly and with honesty.

The Bible teaches us that there are "right" and "wrong" ways to confront others. In Matthew18: 15-20, Jesus teaches us how to deal with a brother who sins against us. Verse 15 says we should go to that brother and tell him his fault between you and him alone. Verse 16 says that if he will not hear you to take one or two witnesses so that every word may be established. Verse 17 says if he still refuses to hear you then tell it to the church. If he refuses to hear the church, he should be "withdrawn" from.

Notice in Galatians 2: 11-14 that Paul did not take Peter aside and confront him one-to-one with his sin. This was a case where the situation did not fit the teaching of Matthew 18:15-20. Peter's action (his sin) was of such a nature that it was public and well known to the church. In fact, Peter's action was leading others in the church into error. If Paul had not confronted this sin, it might have even resulted in a division of the church at Antioch. Therefore, confronting Peter with his sin was done "before them all"--apparently done before the church (or, at the least before all who had been led away by Peter in this case).

Let us notice some relevant history in Peter's past that should have prevented him from making this gross error. Based on a vision from God (Acts 10), Peter had learned that "What God has cleansed you must not call common." (Acts 10:15 NKJ) Based on this vision, Peter was willing to go to the house of Cornelius the Gentile and made this statement in Acts 10: 28,29: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? Peter then observed the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Gentiles and commanded that they be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then, in Acts 11, Peter defended his carrying of the gospel to the Gentiles before the church at Jerusalem

Verse 12 in Galatians 2 indicates what Peter's offense was. It seems that during Peter's stay at Antioch, he had been in the habit of "eating" with the Gentiles. He evidently was disregarding the obsolete laws of the Jews about meat and drinks, and was partaking of the common food eaten by the Gentiles. However, when certain Christians (converted Jews) came down from Jerusalem (from James), Peter withdrew himself from the Gentile Christians because he feared the Jewish Christians. Perhaps he feared their opposition, or their reproaches, or the report they might make to those in Jerusalem. Certainly, Peter knew better than this, but he succombed to an old habit of respecting Jews above Gentiles. To the Gentiles, it may have appeared that Peter was afraid of defilement.

We see in this situation the timidity of Peter's character. The same flaw that showed up when Peter began to sink in the waves and when he denied the Lord thrice, shows up again here in Antioch. Despite his bold, ardent, and zealous nature at most times, it seems that he was always combating his timidity and sometimes gave into it.

Peter was such an influential leader of the church that such a mistake was bound to draw others away into the same error that he was displaying. This should be an important object lesson to the church of today. Every Christian must be aware that he has an influence on others and that others are observing his example. Certainly, we must always remember that we have a responsibility not to lead others astray by our words or by our examples.

Verse 13 indicates that the example of Peter did indeed draw others into the same error. It appears that even the Jewish Christians of Antioch followed the example of Peter and joined Peter in his hypocrisy. They were apparently hiding from the Jews of Jerusalem the fact that they had been associating and eating with the Gentiles. Even Barnabas, Paul's intimate friend and fellow missionary, was led into this hypocrisy.

Verse 14 reveals Paul's reaction to the hypocrisy demonstrated by Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jews. It was obvious to Paul that these Jewish Christians were not walking according to the truth of the gospel. Without any timidity, Paul confronted the hypocrisy of Peter before all the Church. Had this been a private matter, no doubt, Paul would have discussed the matter in private with Peter. Instead, it was a public matter where many were involved and where the interests of the Church were at stake. Therefore, the confrontation was public. The local church of today should use this as an example of how to handle public sins that are threatening the interests of the church.

Don't Be Led Astray

( Our Responsibility to Self)

Our inclination is to focus our condemnation on Peter for leading other Christians astray. However, we need to remember that God will hold each Christian accountable for the decisions he makes. The Jews of Antioch and Barnabas were ultimately responsible for allowing themselves to be led astray by Peter's example. As contemporary Christians, we are responsible for not allowing ourselves to be led astray by the words and examples of others. Even men of respect and reputation (such as Peter, our preachers, and our elders) cannot be trusted with our salvation. God will hold us personally accountable for the conduct of our lives. On judgment day, we will be unable to blame others for our sinful actions.

Do you remember the story of the young prophet and old prophet in I Kings 13? The young prophet of God went from Judah to Bethel, cried out against the altar of Jeroboam, and prophesied concerning the coming of Josiah as King. God commanded the young prophet to neither eat nor drink on his mission and to not return home by the way he came. An old prophet in Bethel heard about the works of this prophet, found him, and invited him to his house to eat. The old prophet lied to him and convinced the young prophet to go to his house by saying that an angel of the Lord commanded him to bring the young prophet to his house to eat bread and drink water. Because the young prophet disobeyed God (by believing the lie of the old prophet), God said through the old prophet that he would die and not be returned to the tomb of his fathers. So it was that the young prophet was killed by a lion and buried by the old prophet in his own tomb.

Was God unfair in his dealings with the young prophet? Certainly, we feel compassionate for him in that he believed the lie of the old prophet. Yet, the bottom line is that he disobeyed God. The young prophet was and we are responsible for obeying God.

Conclusion:

Our responsibility to self demands that we not be led astray by other people.

Our responsibility to others demands that we not lead others astray by our example.

When we are able to accomplish this, we then fulfill our responsibility to God.

From: wddsjd@HiWAAY.net (William Danny Dodson)
Reply-to: wddsjd@HiWAAY.net (William Danny Dodson)