“I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.” (Galatians 5:10, ESV)
My first assignment in the United States Army was as a tank platoon leader. I took over the platoon and discovered that we were only at 50% strength. In time new recruits came in. These new recruits were part of the all-volunteer army. Most were pretty dedicated and manageable soldiers. However, some came into the army because a judge or someone gave them an alternative to have some form of penalty or join the army.
We had one of these new recruits that was very difficult to handle. He was a trouble maker extraordinaire. This young man would continually do things to stir up the pot. He did not just try to stir-up the non-commissioned and commissioned officers. He agitated everyone in the unit. Of course, the soldiers in the barracks would retaliate and things just escalated.
One day, things came to a head while the platoon was in the motor-pool doing maintenance. It was the last straw. He had to be removed for the sake of the mission. I sent him to the company headquarters for reassignment prior to having him discharged from the army.
It is unfortunate that in life there are may people who seem to have a goal of agitating others. They just seem to love stirring up the pot.
Here Paul tells the Galatians, “the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty.” The phrase, “one who is troubling,” is the translation of the participle, terasson, which refers to a troubler or an agitator. In this, he referred to the false teacher who brought a teaching to them, which was causing great agitation. As we have been discussing, the false teaching was that legalistic obedience to the law was necessary to gain God’s approval.
Anytime false teaching is introduced to a congregation, the result will be a disruption and agitation to the fellowship. Paul lets the Galatians understand that the false teacher will bear the penalty for agitating the congregation with his errant doctrine.
As mentioned in previous posts, the church has a responsibility of maintaining purity of doctrine in the assembly. Thus, they would need to correct the errant teaching which could lead to excommunication of the false teacher. However, this is not that to which Paul refers here. Paul is referring to a future divine judgment on the false teachers.
Luke recorded Jesus’ words on this.
“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:2, ESV)
Peter further echo’s this truth.
“And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (2 Peter 2:2–3, ESV)
There is a judgment to come on those who preach and teach that which wars against God’s truth. Beware of such false teachers who sneak into the fellowship. Remove their threat. Remember that God knows all and has a judgment in store for these who would lead people astray.
Renewing the Heart 