Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 5:1

"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." — Galatians 5:1 (ASV)

Before plunging into this third section of his letter, Paul interjects a verse that both summarizes all that has gone before and serves as a transition to what follows. It is, in fact, the key verse of the entire letter. Because of the nature of the true Gospel and of the work of Christ on their behalf, believers must now turn away from anything that smacks of legalism and instead rest in Christ’s triumphant work for them and live in the power of the Spirit. The first part of this verse aptly sums up the message of chs. 3–4, while the second part leads into the ethical section. Paul appeals for an obstinate perseverance in freedom as the only proper response to any attempt to bring Christians once more under legalism.

Since the Jews of Paul’s time spoke of taking the yoke of the law upon themselves, Paul probably alludes to such an expression here. To the Jews taking up the law’s yoke was the essence of religion; to Paul it was assuming the yoke of slavery. He may also be remembering Jesus’ reference to Christians taking his yoke upon them (Matthew 11:29–30), but his yoke was “easy” and “light.”