Paul’s writing to the Galatian church, or churches, is a substantial piece of rhetoric that is almost unmatched, except by the letter to the Romans. The argument against keeping Mosaic Law and for submitting to the grace of God is magnificent and foundational. This particular letter has in it the most condensed and substantial teaching concerning these things found anywhere.
One particularly helpful passage in this letter is the two-passage section in chapter 4. The reason it is helpful is because it sheds light upon the reason why it is so dangerous to give any attention to the ramblings of false teachers.
Paul wrote:
17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.
18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.
Notice what he says. The Jewish religious leaders, who were part of the church in Jerusalem but came up to Galatia in order to contradict Paul, were “seeking” the Galatian believers. That is, they were approaching these people and beginning to influence their thinking and understanding of Paul, the gospel, and Jesus Christ Himself.
Why did they do this? What was their motive? Paul tells us what their motive was. These false brethren (2:4) entered into the church by means of false brethren in the church and were wishing to draw the disciples away by means of false teaching because they were attempting to “shut [them] out.”
What does that mean? It means that by teaching these believers false doctrine, they will be “shut out” from the true doctrine and, further, shut out from Pau’s leadership and teaching. In that way, these evil imposters can adhere disciples to themselves and put a feather in their cap.
This is evil. Pure evil.
This is why Paul said that he did not yield even and “hour” to these men.
Galatians 2:5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
The effect of these kinds of men is that they not only start filling your mind with error incrementally, but they, by means of subtly challenging the truth, begin to alienate you from the truth and those to teach it. Do not entertain them for even a moment.
Read, listen to, study, the Word of God and stick close to those who teach it accurately. That will ensure you know the truth, and that you will be able to serve God faithfully until His Son, Jesus Christ, comes for you from heaven.
Sketches of Scripture 