The controversy over legalism separated Paul from his close friends, the Galatians. The Judaizers’ motives are now exposed. They are proselytizing the Galatians to separate them from Paul and thereby strengthen their own cause. Paul commends their zeal but regrets that this passion is so erroneously misplaced.

Paul’s own career of persecuting Christians proved that zealous behavior can be tragically misguided (1:13-14). Paul was strongly implying that the false teachers in Galatia were making the same mistake he had made prior to his conversion. Their zeal for the law was blinding them to the freedom and truth to be found in Jesus Christ.

In a most tender way, Paul calls the Galatian Christians his little children because of their lack of spiritual growth and depth. The apostle also portrays himself as the Galatians “spiritual mother.” He was feeling the labor pains of their birth all over again because they had fallen into serious error. Now he is agonizing over their spiritual growth. Paul longs for Christ to be formed in them. His passion is for them to be conformed to the character of Christ. This transformation is God’s purpose for each believer as Christ lives in us and through us (Gal. 2:20). Paul is perplexed by their spiritual waywardness.

Paul concludes his highly personal appeal to the Galatians (4:8-20) by stating his desire to be present with them, and for things to be different. But in light of the erroneous teaching in their midst, he has good reason to have doubts about their spiritual status.