Galatians 6:12

“As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, etc..] By whom are meant the false apostles, who are here described, and their views, aims, and ends, opened and exposed. These were very desirous to carry a good face of things outwardly, of appearing outwardly righteous before men, and to be accounted so by them; and therefore did all they to be seen of them, and gain applause from them. They were such, as the Syriac version renders the words, as desired ˆwrhbtçnd, “to glory in the flesh”; their carnal descent and privileges, in their being Hebrews, the seed of Abraham, of the stock of Israel; and in the circumcision of their flesh; or in their external gifts, their natural parts,…”

“Contrast between his zeal in their behalf, implied in Gal 6:11, and the zeal for self on the part of the Judaizers. make a fair show-- (Co2 5:12). in the flesh--in outward things. they--it is "these" who constrain you--by example (Gal 6:13) and importuning. only lest--"only that they may not," &c. (compare Gal 5:11). suffer persecution--They escaped in a great degree the Jews' bitterness against Christianity and the offense of the cross of Christ, by making the Mosaic law a necessary preliminary; in fact, making Christian converts into Jewish proselytes.”

“As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh - To be distinguished for their conformity to external rites and customs. To be known for their zeal in this cause. They sought to show their zeal by making converts, and by inducing others also to conform to those customs. Paul here refers, doubtless, to the Jewish teachers, and he says that their main object was to evince their zeal in the observance of rites and ceremonies. They constrain you - You who are Gentiles. They insist on circumcision as indispensable to salvation. Only lest they should suffer persecution - It is not from any true love for the cause of religion. It is, that they may avoid persecution from the Jews. If they should…”

“As many as desire to make a fair appearance in the flesh - To preserve a fair character. These constrain you - Both by their example and importunity. To be circumcised - Not so much from a principle of conscience, as 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. Galatians 6:13”

“6:12-13 For all of their theological reasoning, the false teachers’ motivation was self-serving: They felt pressure from non-Christian Jews and were more concerned with their own reputation than with honoring God.”

“as desire: Gal 6:13; Mat 6:2, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 23:5, Mat 23:28; Luk 16:15, Luk 20:47; Joh 7:18; Co2 10:12; Co2 11:13; Phi 1:15, Phi 2:4; Col 2:23 they constrain: Gal 2:3, Gal 2:14; Act 15:1, Act 15:5 lest: Gal 5:11; Phi 3:18 Galatians 6:13”