The Folly of Disobeying the Truth
J. Burns, D. D. Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth… I. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN CHRIST BEING EVIDENTLY SET BEFORE US CRUCIFIED. Christ is evidently set before us crucified — 1. In the evangelical histories of the New Testament. The whole scenery of the cross is there exhibited. 2. In the preaching of the gospel. The cross is its very essence, its sum and substance, its all and in all. We must know nothing else. 3. In the Holy Communion. There we set forth the broken Body, the shed Blood. II. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN NOT OBEYING THE TRUTH. By "the truth" we may understand either Christ, who is emphatically the Truth, or the gospel, which is the revelation of God's truth. We shall consider the latter as the meaning of the text. In reference to the truth of the gospel — 1. Some reject it wholly. Revelation disbelieved and despised. 2. Many reject it practically. Do not obey its exhortations. Are hearers only. Do not yield themselves to God. Still live in unbelief and sin. 3. Others reject the truth partially. Believe general truths — obey general commands — and acknowledge general principles; but are undecided, compromising, and half-hearted. III. THE FOLLY AND BEWITCHMENT OF SUCH A COURSE OF DISOBEDIENCE. It is evidently folly — 1. As it is the rejection of true light. Darkness is fraught with present evil, and tends to eternal destruction. 2. It deprives of all the solid comforts of religion. No peace, or joy, or hope. Desponding, restless, miserable. 3. It exposes to the severe disapprobation of God. 4. It will end in everlasting and irremediable ruin (Hebrews 3:2; 1 Peter 4:17, 18). How important, then, that the question of the apostle be duly considered?Who hath bewitched you? 1. Have men, by their creeds and false doctrines? 2. Has Satan, by his devices? 3. Has the world, by its allurements?Application: 1. We urge the sinner to consider his ways — receive the truth in the love of it — and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and he shall be saved. 2. We expostulate with backsliders — and say, Why will ye die? Why forsake Christ? Oh, return. 3. We exhort the believer to buy the truth — to grow in truth — to witness to the truth — to rejoice in the truth — and stedfastly to hold fast the truth to the end. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? WEB: Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?