Paul’s Sharpest Rebuke - Galatians 5:12

 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! - Galatians 5:12

    Paul is on fire. And I mean ON FIRE! But before we delve into the exact meaning of Paul’s rather gruesome remark I think it would be best to remember the reason for his letter to the Galatians in the first place.
    Paul’s mission to Galatia had been successful. The churches he established there were vibrant communities so when it came to his attention that Judaizers had infiltrated the churches there he became understandably upset. You see, more than simply casting aspersions upon Paul’s credentials these false teachers had placed the Gospel itself in jeopardy. So yes, He became upset.
    It seems they wanted to subject these gentile Christian converts to the impossible ordinances of “the law.” And first on the list was circumcision! After Paul had preached freedom in the salvation that Christ had provided, these purveyors of the “works gospel” were creeping in like some insidious disease and Paul wasn’t having any of it.
    Paul’s love for the Gospel was as intense as his defense of it was ferocious. But could he have really meant to suggest that those who infiltrated the ranks of the church and denied the proficiency of the Cross should actually . . .? That, brothers and sisters is exactly what Paul was suggesting, at least in the figurative sense.
    “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” - Matthew 5:29-30. In this passage Jesus suggests a course of action to sinners that parallels Paul’s rebuke of the false teachers. Did Christ actually mean for people to pluck out their own eyes and cut off their own limbs? Literally? No! What our Lord was doing was making use of an hyperbole, and doing so in the most extreme sense. His intent was to make His disciples understand the gravity of their sin and what that sin would cost them. And this was precisely what Paul was doing when he issued his imprecatory wish to the Galatians: he was making the point that he would rather these “wolves” castrate themselves then have their false gospel compel the Galatians to return to a works based religion. Now that’s a hell-fire preacher! I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I suggest we could use more preachers like Paul in today’s churches.
    May we all share Paul’s  fire for the truth of the Gospel and reject any false teacher who tells us that we need more than Christ for salvation.