Galatians 2:4

False brethren. These bigoted Judaizers were probably the Pharisee Christians of Acts 15:5. Their purpose was to influence believing Jews against Paul because of his indifference to the requirements of the ceremonial law.

To spy out. Their pretended friendliness had a sinister motive — jealousy of the “freedom” of Gentile converts.

Liberty. That is, freedom from the requirements of the ritual law and from legalism as a means of salvation (see p. 933).

Bondage. That is, to the requirements of the ritual law and to legalism (see chs. 4:3, 9, 24, 25, 31; 5:1, 2). All who adopt the principle of legalism — that salvation can be earned by conformity to a prescribed code — obviously bind themselves to comply with every requirement of that code. They become bondservants of the law, obliged to do “all things which are written in the book of the law” (eh. 3:10). Should the Judaizers have their way, the liberty of the gospel would be exchanged for the bondage that comes from dependence on works.