CHAPTER VI
CONCLUDING
ADMONITIONS
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Summary—Restoring the Stumbling. Humility Commended. The Law.
Reaping and Sowing. Paul’s Superscription. Glorying in the Cross. The Mark of
Jesus Christ.
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1, 2. If a man be overtaken in a fault. Not gone into sin as a result of sinful premeditation, but
surprised by it. Those intending well are sometimes caught unawares. Ye
which are spiritual. Who have continued to walk in the Spirit. Restore
such an one. Instead of judging severely and seeking to cut them off, seek
lovingly to lead them back from their error. Considering thyself. We
ourselves may be caught by temptation and sin. Let us bear in mind that we are
not infallible, and judge others gently. 2. Bear ye one another’s burdens.
Help each other, sustain each other; if you see one about to stumble under his
burden, hold him up. So fulfill the law of Christ. The law of love. See
John 13:34.
3–6. If a man think, etc.
If he thinks he is strong, needs no help, will never need sympathy, etc., he
deceiveth himself. 4. But let every man prove his own work. Instead of
commenting upon the weaknesses of others, let him test his own work. If his
work stands the test, there he can rejoice in it alone, not because he is
superior to another. 5. For every man shall bear his own burden. This
seems at first to conflict with verse 2. The meaning of verse 2 is “Bear
ye one another’s burden of trial and suffering;” of verse 5, “Every one
must bear his own burden of responsibility.” The first is aiding to bear the
burden of another’s infirmities; the second is the burden of our account before
God. The Greek had two different words for “burden” in the two verses. It is
unfortunate that the Versions do not represent the difference by two words in
the English. 6. Let him that is taught. Let those who are taught by the
preachers and teachers sustain those who instruct them.
7–10. Be not deceived.
Men often are. They do fancy that God may be mocked. The immutable law of the
spiritual kingdom shows that he is not. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap. A law not only of the vegetable world, but of our bodies and
spirits. Habit is only an illustration of this law. The delirium tremens on the
one hand, and the purity of the aged saint on the other are due to the action
of this law. 8. Soweth to his flesh. He who thus sows will reap a crop
of fleshly lusts and ills. His carnal indulgence will end in moral ruin. Soweth
to the Spirit. He shall reap spiritually, and as a final harvest the
spiritual life beyond, the life everlasting. 9. Let us not be weary in well
doing. In sowing to the Spirit. Because, if we hold out faithful, and faint
not, we are sure to reap in due season. 10. As we have therefore
opportunity. Doing good is well doing, i. e., sowing to the Spirit.
The Christian rule is to do good, but above all others to love, cherish and
help the brethren.
11–14. Ye see how large a letter. Rather as in the Revision. Paul used an amanuensis in
letter writing, but the superscriptions were written in his own hand to show
the genuineness of his epistles. See Rom. 16:22, and Col. 4:18. Some have
supposed that his “thorn in the flesh” was a weakness of the eyes which
rendered it difficult for him to write. 12. As many as desire to make a fair
shew in the flesh. To comply with the worldly demands. They desire to have
you circumcised, because, if you are not, and they fellowship you, the Jews
will persecute them. 13. For neither they themselves. They do not keep
the law in all its details, but want to bring you under it that they may boast
of their Gentile proselytes. Glory in your flesh. Glory because
circumcision has made marks in your flesh. 14. But God forbid. Not only
will he not glory in what does away with the cross (5:11), but God forbid
that he should glory in anything but the cross. By whom. By this cross
he also is crucified, so crucified that he is dead to the world. It is
separated from him.
15–18. In Christ Jesus.
See note on 5:6. Circumcision in itself is a matter of indifference. To be a
new creature, neither Jew nor Gentile, but a child of God is essential. 16.
This rule. The one just named in verse 15. A benediction is pronounced
upon all such. And upon the Israel of God. Rather, Even upon,
etc. The Greek word often means even, and does here, as the Israel of God does
not differ from those who follow “this rule.” 17. From henceforth let no
man trouble me. Dispute my apostolic authority. I bear in my body the
marks, etc. He bore on his body too many evidence of what he had suffered
for Christ. As slaves were often branded by their master’s name, so he had the
brand of Christ upon him in his scars. Compare 2 Cor. 11:24, 25. 18.
Brethren. This is his parting benediction. It rests not upon the flesh
against which he had warned them, but upon the highest part of their being, the
spirit.
Excerpt from:
The People's New Testament
by Barton
Warren Johnson
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