Matthew Henry Commentary Galatians 5:1-6

"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love." — Galatians 5:1-6 (ASV)

Christ will not be the Saviour of anyone who will not acknowledge and rely upon Him as their only Saviour. Let us heed the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to steadfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life—the reward of righteousness and the object of their hope—as the gift of God by faith in Christ, and not for the sake of their own works.

The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his liberty; the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges or profession will be sufficient for acceptance with God without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God and to our fellow believers.

May we be among those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger in the past was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it, other things are of small value.