Galatians 6 - Introduction

He moveth them to deal mildly with a brother that hath slipped, and to bear one another's burden; to be liberal to their teachers, and not weary of well-doing: he sheweth what they intend that preach circumcision: he glorieth in nothing, save in the cross of Christ.

Anno Domini 49.

THE Apostle, in what follows, recommended to the spiritual men whowere teachers in the Galatian churches, to restore by meek exhortations, and affectionate rebukes, those who were surprised into any fault, Galatians 6:1.—And to sympathize with, and assist one another, in every distress, whereby they would fulfil Christ's law of love, Galatians 6:2.—And because men's neglecting others in their distresses often proceeds from pride, or high opinion of themselves, the Apostle declared, that if any one, especially anyteacher of religion, thinketh himself to be something, yet being nothing, inasmuch as he refuses to do works of love, or as all genuine good springs originally from the free grace of God, he deceiveth himself, Galatians 6:3.—Wherefore, that the Galatian teachers might form a just judgment of themselves, the Apostle exhorted every one to try his own work; and if he found it good, he would have matter of rejoicing in what he is, through the grace of God, and not in the inferiority of others, Galatians 6:4.—This, he informed them, was the true Christian spirit, because every one shall bear his own burden at the judgment, and be treated, not according to the opinion which he has of himself, or which others have of him, but according to what he really is, Galatians 6:5

Having thus instructed the teachers in their duty to the people, he shewed the people their duty to their teachers; for he commanded every one who was instructed in the word, to impart some share of the temporal good things which he enjoyed, to the person who instructed him, Galatians 6:6.—And lest any of them might neglect to provide a proper maintenance for the ministers of the word, on the pretences which an immoderate selfishness is ready to suggest; he assured them, that, as certainly as men reap the kind of grain which they sow, Galatians 6:7.—so certainly he, who neglecting the works of faith and love, soweth to his flesh, by employing himself in procuring the gratification of his fleshly appetites, shall, from such a course, reap corruption. Whereas he who soweth to the Spirit, the good seed of knowledge and holiness, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting, Galatians 6:8. And therefore he exhorted the Galatians, while they had opportunity, to do good to all, especially to them who were of the household of faith, Galatians 6:9.—Next, he desired them to consider what pains he had taken, in writing so large a letter to them with his own hand, to secure them against the sophistryof the false teachers, Galatians 6:11.—And having mentioned these impostors, he could not finish his letter without observing, that the earnestness with which they pressed circumcision proceeded entirely from their desire to live in pleasure, and to avoid persecution for preaching salvation through a crucified Messiah, Galatians 6:12.—To prove this, he assured the Galatians, that these circumcised teachers did not themselves keep the law; but they wished them to be circumcised, that they might boast among the unbelieving Jews of their having proselyted them to Judaism, Galatians 6:13.—But, with respect to himself, he told them, that he had no worldly views whatever in converting them, through the grace of God, and never wished to boast in any thing, but in the doctrine of salvation through the cross of Christ, by which the world was crucified to him, and he to the world, Galatians 6:14.—Then declared a second time, (see chap. Galatians 5:6.) that neithercircumcision availeth any thing, as a preparation for eternal glory, nor uncircumcision, but an entire change of principles, dispositions, and actions, Galatians 6:15.—And wished peace and mercy to all who earnestly followed that rule, and laboured, by the grace of God through faith, to be new creatures, and to be thereby of the Israel of God, and the spiritual seed of Abraham, to whom the promises belonged, Galatians 6:16.—And having, in this Epistle, plainly declared, and fully established the doctrine of justification by faith, he forbade the false teachers to trouble him any more on account of that doctrine, as he bare on his body marks of his sufferings for the gospel, whereby his sincerity in the things which he preached was put beyond all doubt, Galatians 6:17.—Then concluded with giving the Galatians his Apostolic benediction, Galatians 6:18.