[This is Part 10 of the series Did Jesus Christ Abolish the Law?]
“Yoke”
Honestly speaking, could God have liberated Israel from Egyptian bondage, only to enslave them again with a burdensome system of laws? What really is the “yoke of bondage” mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5?
Let’s start with what God Himself says about the law that He gave to Israel at Mount Sinai:
In addition John wrote:
It is clear from these passages, that God’s laws, especially the ten commandments are not the negative “yoke of bondage” that many people have erroneously come to think.
What then was Paul talking about in Galatians 5?
To get the background of this we need to go a few chapters back. Paul actually began discussing bondage and liberty in chapter 2:
What is this “bondage” and what is this “liberty in Christ”?
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world
Here Christ’s follower is likened to a very young heir – or even a servant [or as the original Greek word means - "slave"]. As children Christ’s followers were virtually in bondage “under the elements of the world”.
What is this “elements of the world”? The exact same original Greek phrase is translated “rudiments of the world” in Col.2:8 and Col.2:20.
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Notice the phrase “commandments and doctrines of men”. Whatever this “commandments and rudiments of the world” is [we need not even twist our brain trying to figure it out] – one thing is sure: it is not the law of God or “law of Moses”. It is “commandments and doctrines of men” – whether it be Greek philosophy or Jewish human traditions! [See my post titled Col.2:14-16 – What Was Nailed to the Cross? for more discussion on this.] It most certainly is not God’s commandments and doctrine!
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
What is it that we are redeemed from?
Paul explains in the previous chapter:
Christ redeemed us from the “curse of the law”. This curse is the result of breaking the law. When we break God’s law we become slaves of sin and the resulting curse leads to death. Notice:
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Here Paul said that we are slaves either of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness. But we mostly – in fact all – are slaves of sins. But by submitting ourselves to Christ’s teachings we become “servants of righteousness” – no longer servants of sin. Christ paid for for the “curse” [that the law has against us] with His life — thus setting us free! This becomes our “liberty in Christ”. As you can see, Christ did not free us from obligation to obey God’s law. Being set free from the bondage of sin, “we became servants of righteousness“. When Christ lived a sinless life, He did not just do it to pay for our sins. He did it also to set an example for us to follow or emulate. Notice:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Christ Himself said that “if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” [Mat.19:16f]! In Rev.22:14f (read it in KJV) Jesus further said that those who do God’s commandments will be given “right [or privilege] to the tree of life”. So clearly we are still required to keep God’s commandments. Continuing now beginning with verse 8:
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
It should be noted here that the Galatians were Gentiles. They used to serve idols instead of the true God as verse 8 says. Verse 9 reveals that these Galatians after their conversion to Christianity, did “turn again” or backslid to the “weak and beggarly elements”. These “beggarly elements” Paul says, is what they got in “bondage” of, again! Since the Galatians were Gentiles, it makes no sense to say that they were returning to the “law of Moses”, which they had not kept before in the first place. Isn’t it?!!
So this “weak and beggarly elements” had nothing to do with the commandments of God or even the “law of Moses”.
Again notice the phrase “entangled again”. As Gentiles, the Galatians could not be “entangled again” with something they had not done before!
Likewise these formerly idolatrous [Gal.4:8] heathen Galatians could not have been “freed from keeping the law”, since they had not been keeping the law before their conversion, to begin with.
Rather, Paul warns Galatians [Gal. 5] against getting entangled again, by going back to the “rudiments of the world” – the man-made practices which is what Paul regard as “yoke of bondage”. Christ Himself spoke strongly against such man-made commandments because they negate the very commandments of God. Notice:
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Paul’s warning to Galatians is surely also for mankind today which is largely steeped in human traditions that are mostly borrowed from paganism which, needless to say, are contrary or antagonistic to God’s commandments. Since they are contrary to God’s way, these human traditions, far from being harmless, actually bring curse as Paul warns.
(Be sure to read How Should We Worship God for related discussion.)
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