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6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself.
6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6:6 Let him that is taught in the word
communicate unto him that
teacheth in all good things.
6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting.
6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not.
6:10 As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own
hand.
6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they
constrain you to be
circumcised; only lest they should suffer
persecution for the cross of Christ.
6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but
desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the
world.
6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature.
6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and
mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the
marks of the Lord
Jesus.
6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Amen.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Galatians
Book: Galatians
Chapter: 6
Overview:
Exhortations to
Meekness, gentleness, and
Humility.
(1-5) To
kindness towards all men, especially believers.
(6-11) The
Galatians guarded against the judaizing teachers.
(12-15) A
solemn blessing.
(16-18)
1-5 We are to
Bear one another's burdens.
So we shall fulfil
the
Law of
Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and
compassion towards each other, agreeably to his
Example. It
becomes us to
Bear one another's burdens, as fellow-travellers.
It is very common for a
Man to look upon himself as wiser and
better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one
deceives himself;
By pretending to what he has not, he puts a
cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad
effects. This will never gain esteem, either with
God or men.
Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know
our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and
the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and
Afflictions. How
Light soever men's sins seem to them when
committed, yet they will be found a heavy
Burden, when they come
to reckon with
God about them.
No Man can pay a
Ransom for his
Brother; and
Sin is a
Burden to the soul. It is a spiritual
Burden; and the less a
Man feels it to be such, the more cause
has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, and
therefore have
No sight or sense of the spiritual
Burden of
Sin.
Feeling the weight and
Burden of our sins, we must seek to be
eased thereof
By the
Saviour, and be warned against every
Sin.
6-11 Many excuse themselves from the work of religion, though
they may make a show, and profess it. They may impose upon
others, yet they deceive themselves if they think to impose upon
God, who knows their hearts as
Well as actions; and as he cannot
be deceived,
So he will not be mocked. Our present time is seed
time; in the other world we shall reap as we sow now. As there
are two sorts of sowing, one to the
Flesh, and the other to the
Spirit,
So will the reckoning be hereafter. Those who live a
Carnal, sensual
Life, must expect
No other
Fruit from such a
course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance
and influences of the Holy
Spirit, live a
Life of
Faith in
Christ, and abound in
Christian graces, shall of the
Spirit reap
Life Everlasting. We are all very apt to tire in duty,
particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and
Guard against. Only to perseverance in
Well-doing is the reward
promised. Here is an exhortation to all to do good in their
places. We should take care to do good in our
Life-time, and
make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh
occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches.
12-15 Proud, vain, and
Carnal hearts, are content with just
So
much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the
Apostle professes his own
Faith,
Hope, and joy; and that his
principal
Glory was in the
Cross of
Christ.
By which is here
meant, his sufferings and
Death On the
Cross, the doctrine of
Salvation By a crucified
Redeemer.
By Christ, or
By the
Cross of
Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the
world. The more we consider the sufferings of the
Redeemer from
the world, the less likely shall we be to
Love the world. The
Apostle was as little affected
By its charms, as a beholder
would be
By any thing which had been graceful in the
Face of a
crucified person, when he beholds it blackened in the agonies of
Death. He was
No more affected
By the objects around him, than
one who is expiring would be struck with any of the prospects
his dying eyes might view from the
Cross On which he hung. And
as to those who have truly believed in
Christ Jesus, all things
are counted as utterly worthless compared with him. There is a
new
Creation; old things are passed away, and new views and
dispositions are brought in under the regenerating influences of
God the Holy
Spirit. Believers are brought into a new world, and
being created in
Christ Jesus unto good
Works, are formed to a
Life of
Holiness. It is a change of mind and
Heart, whereby we
are enabled to believe in the
Lord Jesus, and to live to
God;
and where this inward, practical religion is wanting, outward
professions, or names, will never stand in any stead.
16-18 A new
Creation to the image of
Christ, as showing
Faith
in him, is the greatest distinction between one
Man and another,
and a blessing is declared
On all who walk according to this
rule. The blessings are, peace and
Mercy. Peace with
God and our
Conscience, and all the comforts of this
Life, as far as they
are needful. And
Mercy, an interest in the free
Love and favour
of
God in
Christ, the
Spring and
Fountain of all other
blessings. The written
Word of God is the rule we are to go
By,
both in its doctrines and precepts. May his
Grace ever be with
our
Spirit, to sanctify, quicken, and cheer us, and may we
always be ready to maintain the honour of that which is indeed
our
Life. The
Apostle had in his body the marks of the
Lord
Jesus, the scars of wounds from persecuting enemies, for his
cleaving to
Christ, and the doctrine of the
Gospel. The
Apostle
calls the
Galatians his brethren, therein he shows his
Humility
and his tender
Affection for them; and he takes his leave with a
very serious
Prayer, that they might enjoy the favour of
Christ
Jesus, both in its effects and in its evidences. We need desire
No more to make us happy than the
Grace of our
Lord Jesus
Christ. The
Apostle does not pray that the
Law of
Moses, or the
Righteousness of
Works, but that the
Grace of
Christ, might be
with them; that it might be in their hearts and with their
spirits, quickening, comforting, and strengthening them: to all
which he sets his
Amen; signifying his desire that
So it might
be, and his
Faith that
So it would be.