3:18
Having said whom they should follow, Paul now gives those whom they should not follow. Anyone who walks as an enemy of the cross of Christ should be avoided. It is on the cross that Christ won our salvation for us. The Judaisers were in effect enemies of the cross, for their teaching said that the cross was not sufficient to justify us. Paul told them this with tears. There could be three broad reasons why Paul said this with tears: (i) because their false teachings kept people away from the life giving gospel; (ii) because the false teachers themselves were heading to destruction; (iii) because of the pain they caused Paul directly.
3:19
The destiny of these false teachers is not good, they are heading towards their own destruction. The reference to “belly” or “stomach” could be a literal reference, with greed being symptomatic of their earthly mindedness. Or it could be a more general reference to their fleshliness. Either way, they are not heavenly minded, they are not being led by the Spirit.
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