Galatians 2:14
14 But [alla] when [hote] I saw [eido] that [hoti] they walked [orthopodeo]
not [ou] uprightly [orthopodeo] according to [pros] the
truth [aletheia] of the gospel, [euaggelion] I said [epo] unto Peter [Petros] before [emprosthen] them
all, [pas] If [ei] thou, [su] being [huparcho] a Jew, [Ioudaios] livest [zao] after the manner of Gentiles, [ethnikos] and [kai] not [ou] as do the Jews, [Ioudaikos]
why [tis] compellest thou [anagkazo] the Gentiles [ethnos] to
live as do the Jews [Ioudaizo]? KJV-Interlinear
14 But when I saw that they were
not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the
presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like
the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? NASB
In Acts 10, Peter saw a vision that had unclean
together with clean animals that were presented to him for food. At first Peter refused the eat of the unclean
animals, preferring to continue in the Levitical rituals with regard to foods,
not catching on initially that God had opened the door of the spiritual life to
gentiles, which was not meant just for the Jews. That the old ritual habits had been removed
and that now there was a wider door of opportunity for all peoples.
Peter later understood this principle as he went to
visit with and then eat with Cornelius, a gentile, for whom this vision was
intended.
When Peter entered into the home of Cornelius, then
he presumably began the activity of acting like and living like the gentiles,
in so much as their diet was concerned.
And, if this habit began with foods which were a huge part of the
Levitical ritual, then it would have been easy for him to adopt other gentile
customs.
And here, years later, now Paul confronts Peter for
acting with a double standard, with hypocrisy, especially when his Jewish acquaintances
were present.
This hypocrisy sends a wrong message and teaches
the wrong principles of truth, as though Peter was saying and acting out one
thing, when gentiles were present, and acting and saying differently when Jews
were present.
So, Peter knew what he was doing, and Paul called
him on the duplicity, and he called him on it in a public setting.
Peter was acting like and behaving like a Gentile
when with gentiles and as a Jew when with Jews, which indicates that Pater was
accepting both standards for the convenience of his company. This was a
betrayal of principle.
There was nothing wrong with either lifestyle so
long as the lifestyle was not driving the spiritual life or principles of
truth.
You can wear the clothes you want to wear, eat the
foods you like to eat, live in the home that makes you comfortable, and so
forth, but these things are not the spiritual life.
Your spiritual life is doctrine, studying, learning,
understanding, and using the principles of scriptures in so far as they are applied
correctly to your life.
Your foods, home, clothes, deeds, are not your
spiritual life. Doctrine in the soul is.
You can climb mountains, drive fast cars, change
diapers, wear black, be a soldier, be a ditch digger, be a professional, be or
do anything that you like, but all people learn doctrine by means of only own method
which God had designed for the spiritual life, which is to study doctrine daily,
learn doctrine and then apply it to your life, regardless of your chosen
lifestyle.
Your lifestyle does not form your spiritual
life. Doctrine forms your spiritual
life.
Your preconceived ideas or ideas of convenience do
not define doctrine, the scriptures define doctrine.
The only way that you can learn doctrine is to be
taught by means of a consistent daily study.
Doctrine sets a single and unique standard for
everyone. And then doctrine will define
your morality, your beliefs, your standards with respect to God and
people. After that you can be as unique
unto yourself as you wish.
