December 15
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ARE YOU FOOLISH AND BEWITCHED?
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:1-5
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According to a commentary, the term foolish Paul used in this verse is from the ancient Greek word anoetos, which had the idea of someone who can think but fails to use their power of perception. The principles Paul referred to are things the Galatians knew, things they had been taught. The knowledge and understanding were there, but they were not using them. The word “bewitched” has the idea that the Galatians were under some type of spell. Paul didn’t mean this literally, but their thinking was so clouded – and so unbiblical – that it seemed that some kind of spell had been cast over them.
Barclay translates bewitched as put the evil eye on. The ancient Greeks were accustomed to and afraid of the idea that a spell could be cast upon them by an evil eye. The evil eye was thought to work in the way a serpent could hypnotize its prey with its eyes. Once the victim looked into the evil eye, a spell could be cast. Therefore, the way to overcome the evil eye was simply not to look at it. In using this phrasing and the word picture of bewitched, Paul encouraged the Galatians to keep their eyes always and steadfastly upon Jesus. When we see Jesus clearly before us, we won’t be deceived.
Paul repeated the phrase from Galatians 3:2 because he wanted to emphasize there was a choice to be made. Which will it be? Do you believe you will be blessed by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Will you earn and deserve your blessing from God, or will you believe and receive it?
We clearly see Paul cautioning all Christians to ensure that they do not fall prey into the bewitchment of the evil one. The only way to do that is to ensure that you choose to walk in faith instead of following the law. Sadly, many Christians have been fooled and bewitched for so long that it is hard to get out of such wrong indoctrination or religion.
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REFLECTION
• How can a Christian ensure that he or she isn’t fooled by doctrines and teachings that looks like the gospel bug is a different gospel?