Galatians 4:16

[alon]

Galatians 4:16 (ESV) Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Rav Sha'ul is talking about something that if you haven't already experienced, you will. Having the truth isn’t like having anything else. It’s wonderful, amazing, liberating; and you want to share it. However you’ll most often find people don’t want to hear the truth. Some you thought were good Christian friends from before you became Messianic you now find starting to resent you. You can sense a strain on the relationship. Pretty soon, they become distant, reserved, even aloof. And once it sets in there is nothing you can do. Their pride takes hold and then they start calling you names like “Judaizer” or “legalist.” They tell others how  they are to see you fall into deception. They often turn on you, and they may even see you as an enemy.

 
That’s exactly what Paul is talking about here. His converts, having seen the truth, had then went a different way and Paul feared they’d see him as the enemy. Perhaps they had experienced this themselves and this had caused them to fall away. More likely they had turned to a different Mishna (good news); in Hebrew a “besora zara” which means “a strange foreign gospel.” Besora zara is similar to Avodah Zara which is idolatry. Once shown the truth when they then turn their back on it, people most often fall into idolatry, Ebionism, Orthodox Judaism or other strange fire- in Hebrew “esh zara.” Once leaving the truth their love for Yeshua dies, and now they are open to the Enemy’s attacks. They rarely ever return to the truth. It can happen surprising quick, even to someone who appears strong in their faith.

 
What often happens to we Meshiachim and to those who may fall away is we start to put up a wall and become proud. It’s a defense mechanism we all have and need to be aware of. People tend to get defensive, then entrenched in their views when challenged, even politely. We should watch for it In ourselves and understand it in others.

 
Pride is the biggest problem in the Messianic movement. Pride will take you down, and none of us are exempt from it. When confronted with it, we all to often respond in kind. So will others if we come across as proud ourselves.

Dan (who badly needed to review this) C

Based on a d'rash by Rav S.