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The apostle is illustrating what we may call the "Christian law of accommodation," and is urging

(1) the objects for which such accommodation may be permitted; and

(2) the careful limitations under which such accommodation must be put. There can be no accommodation of Christian principle and truth. The sphere for it is

(1) the expression of principle in adaptation to persons and circumstances; and

(2) things indifferent, such as the wearing of Chinese dress by English missionaries in China, which might seem to have the appearance of disguise, but may be advisable in order not to shock the conservative prejudices of the race. Still, in application to modern life, accommodation, with full preservation of principle, is demanded, and is the secret of gracious and kindly relations in the family, in society, and in the Church. So St. Paul submitted to "take vows," "and be at charges," in accordance with Jewish regulations; and so he accommodated himself to Greek notions, as at Athens, by references to philosophy and poetry. For some illustrations of his method of action, see Acts 16:3; Acts 18:18; Acts 21:26; Acts 23:6; Acts 26:4, 5, 6, 22, 27; and also Galatians 2:3, 12, 14. In the verses, observe the explanatory parenthesis in ver. 21, which is a kind of apology for the use of the term "without Law." See St. Paul's argument in Romans 2:14, 15. Gentiles might be so regarded by the Jews, who were under well recognized Mosaic rules, but they were really under the living law of Christ, to whom they had yielded heart and life. We notice that -

I. MEN ARE CLASSED BY THEIR RELATIONS TO LAW. The term "law" may be applied to:

1. The natural conditions under which God has created us and set us. These are known, more or less distinctly, to every man.

2. Particular laws, directly revealed to certain nations of men. Reference here is to the particular revelation of law made to the Jews, which was rendered necessary,

(1) to secure their isolation from other nations; and

(2) to aid them in holding fast the special trust of two truths - the unity and the spirituality of God which had been committed to their charge. That Law given to the Jews was

(1) civil,

(2) ceremonial,

(3) moral.

The moral law alone was of permanent obligation; and it was precisely the same moral law that was, in other forms and terms, revealed to the entire human race. The civil and ceremonial laws of Mosaism were but a fence around the moral law, and an aid to keeping it. St. Paul recognized no permanent obligation in it. But seeing he had to do with men who exaggerated the importance of this formal law, he would stand with them on their level, and hope to raise them up to his. The secret of all good teaching, and of all high spiritual influence, is condescending to the level of those whom we would uplift and bless.

II. MEN REGARDED AS INDEPENDENT OF LAW. That is, of particular and ceremonial law. The mass of mankind never came under the shadow of Mosaism. Yet they too were "God's offspring," for whom he surely cared, and to whom, in wise and gracious ways, he had also revealed his will. Such men came under

(1) natural law, written in the conscience;

(2) under social laws, tabulated by rulers and governors; and,

(3) when they became Christians, they voluntarily put themselves under Christ's living rule, which is the everlasting law of God, finding present daily adaptations precisely to us. To these St. Paul brought the gospel, and he persisted in dealing with them just as they were. He would not require them to come under Jewish yokes in order to gain a Christian standing through Mosaism.

III. MEN DEALT WITH ON THEIR COMMON STANDING GROUND. The gospel knows nothing of such peculiarities as "under Law" or "without Law." It recognizes only two standings of men before God.

1. Sinners. And to men, as such, it brings a message of forgiveness and eternal life.

2. In Christ. And to them it brings its varied unfoldings of Christian duty and of Christian privilege. Impress the limits of the adaptations made by the Christian worker. - R.T.

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KJV: And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

WEB: To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;