Galatians 6:12 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The sum of all is this: As many as desire to make a fair show Or appearance; that is, to preserve a fair character; in the flesh In external things, or with respect to their observing the Jewish rites and ceremonies; these would constrain you Gentile converts, both by their example and importunity; to be circumcised And subject, with them, to the carnal ordinances of the law. The apostle's meaning is, that the false teachers wished to appear well in the eyes of the Jews, on account of their attachment to the law of Moses, which in other passages he terms the flesh, in opposition to the spiritual dispensation of the gospel. Only lest, &c. As if he had said, They do not act thus with a single eye to the glory of God, or from a principle of conscience, but only lest they should suffer persecution From the unbelieving Jews; for the cross of Christ For maintaining that faith in a crucified Saviour is alone sufficient for justification. It is well known that the Jewish chief priests and elders were great persecutors of the disciples of Christ, and began their persecution very early. See John 9:22; John 12:22; John 19:38. Now it seems the mandates of their council were received with implicit submission, even by the synagogues in the Gentile countries, Acts 9:2. The false teachers, therefore, of whom the apostle speaks, to recommend themselves to these rulers at Jerusalem, who stirred up the unbelieving Jews every where against the Christians, fell upon the scheme of blending Judaism with the gospel; and, as the apostle informs us, urged the Gentiles to receive circumcision, merely that they themselves might not be persecuted for the gospel doctrine of salvation through a crucified Messiah. For neither they themselves Who are circumcised, and so are solemnly obliged to observe the whole of it; keep the law Namely, in other points of greater importance; so far are they from a real zeal for it, or from acting uprightly and conscientiously in this matter; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh May boast of you as their proselytes, and make a merit of this with the other Jews.