Hold a Grudge Against Sin
Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ESV
The initial focus of the study is the translated word “submit” in the ESV. This is the Greek word ἐνέχω/enechó. Depending on the translation of the Bible, ἐνέχω/enechó is used as “burdened” in the NIV, “subject” in the NASB, “entangled” in KJV versions, and “encumbered” in the Berean Study Bible. The word can also mean to keep or hold a grudge against one.
The word is used only three times in the New Testament. Let’s look at the other two examples.
Mark 6:19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not…
The “him” in the verse above is John the Baptist. Herodias had it in for John because of what John had told Herod in the previous verse. Herodias had a vengeful, nasty attitude against John the Baptist. She eventually executed her grudge through her daughter. John the Baptist was beheaded.
Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Luke 11:53 As He went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press Him hard and to provoke Him to speak about many things…
Scripture is full of examples of how the legal experts of the day treated Jesus. None of them are favorable. The motivation of the scribes and Pharisees is noted in the next verse. And eventually, these legalists would have Jesus illegally arrested, tried under a kangaroo court, and executed on the cross.
Luke 11:54 …plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.
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This should be our attitude toward the “yoke of slavery” that is sin. We should have absolute spite and disregard for unlawful behavior. We should have a gnawing, relentless disgust. Execute and kick bad lifestyle habits, choices out of our lives. ἐνέχω/enechó and don’t go back to your old ways.
February 13, 2022 at 3:18 PM
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