Galatians 2

“If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (v14).  Paul knew that Peter didn’t keep all Jewish ritual laws, having had a vision from God (Acts 10).  But “the party of the circumcision” had caused him to waver (v11-14).  Paul reminded Peter that Jews and Gentiles alike were justified “through faith in Christ Jesus” (v16), and not through rituals like circumcision or dietary codes.

We often justify ourselves while holding others to an unattainable standard.  The gospel reminds us that we are equally incapable of righteousness without the mercy of Jesus.