September 14, 2008
“Confronting Peter”
Galatians 2:11-21
Coming to Galatians 2:11 we start Paul’s account of his confrontation of the Apostle Peter; here we see Peter was definitely not infallible. Here we see two of the great leaders in Christ handling a terrible error on Peter’s part. There is a great deal we can learn from this passage!
I. Notice, Peter’s pitiful pandering to peer pressure - :11-12
1. Peter should have know better than to have fallen into such a sin – Acts 10:9-47
2. Peter’s previous practice, showed he did know better – Galatians 2:12
3. Yet, here he panders to peer pressure - :12
4. He leads others astray - :13
II. Notice, Paul’s public protest against Peter’s pandering - :14-16
1. He is protesting against Peter’s inconsistent living - :14
2. He is protesting against a sin which could cause great confusion in regard to the TRUTH of the GOSPEL - :14-21 (the entire passage is about this!)
3. He is protesting publically against Peter’s public sin - :14
III. Notice, Peter’s praiseworthy response to Paul’s pointing out of his sin –
Yet, before we notice Peter’s praiseworthy response, let us consider how he could have responded wrongly to Paul’s criticism:
1. Some ungodly Bible critics say this passage indicates a division in the early church between Peter and Paul. Nothing could be further from the truth. Critics who say this show they just do not read the entire Bible but rejoice in taking verses out of context!
2. Consider Peter was in an honorable position as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Now, Paul was also an Apostle but his credentials as such were not as obvious as Peter’s. Peter could have questioned Paul’s authority, he did not!
3. Paul’s caught Peter in an extremely embarrassing public mistake. The church at Antioch was one of the largest; it was the place where Christians were first called “Christians” – Acts 11:26. Peter might have argued Paul was wrong to embarrass him so publically.
4. Yet we know Peter did not complain against Paul’s rebuke at all but he humbly admitted Paul was right and he was wrong and ultimately encouraged all others to read Paul’s letters as SCRIPTURE! Among the last words Peter wrote were words in praise of Paul: -
A. He called Paul “beloved brother” - 2 Peter 3:15
B. He credits Paul with “wisdom” from God – 2 Peter 3:15
C. He seems to credit Paul with superior intelligence – 2 Peter – 2 Peter 3:16
D. He says misunderstand Paul’s writing leads to “destruction” – 2 Peter 3:16
E. He calls Paul’s writing “scripture” – 2 Peter 3:16
F. He admonishes his readers to grow in grace and knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ – 2 Peter 3:18 (this is the same message Paul preached and taught!)
