Gálatas 6
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 6
Henry - We ought to deal very tenderly with those who are overtaken in sin, it may some time or other be our own case. This will dispose us to do by others as we desire to be done by in such a case. Augustine said “There is no sin which one person has committed that another person may not commit also.” Radmacher - Even as a doctor can catch a disease from treating a patient, so one restoring a fallen sinner can be tempted to fall into sin. That danger is well worth considering. Fenelon says “To realize God’s presence is the one sovereign remedy against temptation.” John
Gálatas 6
Henry - Many needful reproofs lose their efficacy by being given in wrath; but when they are managed with tenderness, and from sincere concern for the welfare of those to whom they are given, they are likely to make a due impression. H A
Gálatas 6
Henry - Though as Christians we are freed from the law of Moses, yet we are under the law of Christ; and therefore, instead of laying unnecessary burdens upon others, it must more becomes us to fulfil the law of Christ by bearing one another’s burdens The law of Christ is the call to love one another as Jesus commanded in John 13 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (Jn 13:34) In James 2:8 the apostle writes "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law (THE LAW OF CHRIST) according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well." And then in the preceding context Gal 5:14 Paul declared that "the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love seeks to help others in their distress and share the load with them. Vine adds that "The believer is to remember that he is in the world not for what he can get out of it but for what good he can do in it, for what help he can render while he is here. So was it with Christ, so must it be with the Christian." So this is the law of Christ, the law of love and calls for the spiritual person to lift them up, to hold them up, to bear their burden. Of course, burden here is used figuratively, but when a person falls under the full weight (so to speak) it is essentially an unbearable burden. Beloved, most of us understand exactly what Paul is saying by describing this temptation/sin as a heavy burden, for we have all had times in our life where we were overwhelmed by a persistent, oppressive, "excessively heavy" temptation! Don Anderson - What is the “law of Christ”? Love one another, wasn’t it? John 13:34-35 So a serving Christian, lending a hand to someone who has a heavy load, they—in this context—would be fulfilling the “law of Christ.” ...Do you remember Simon of Cyrene (Mt 27:32-33, Mk 15:21-22)? He just showed up for the crucifixion and ended up carrying the cross. The Roman government demanded that you carry it at least for a mile if a soldier or anybody else asked you to do something, you took it for a while and carried it....As I shared with you back in one of the earlier studies, I went on a little journey of reading Isobel Kuhn’s books. And I was not prepared for the last one. It hadn’t been published but they found it after she died in 1957 in some of her notes. The title of the book is called Second Mile People. Wouldn’t you love, in heaven, to be noted for all eternity that you were a second mile people? That you went above and beyond the requirements that were asked of you and you stayed by the stuff, and you were faithful. And there’s an army of people who thank God because you are that kind of a person. That’s continually “bearing one another’s burdens, and so observe perfectly the law of Christ.”(Notes) John
Gálatas 6
Henry - By our own work is chiefly meant our own actions or behaviour. These the apostle directs us to prove, that is, seriously to examine them by the rule of God’s word. Instead of being forward to judge and censure others, it would much more become us to search and try our own ways; our business lies more at home than abroad, with ourselves than with other men. The best way to keep us from being proud of ourselves is to prove our own selves: the better we are acquainted with our own hearts and ways, the less liable shall we be to despise and the more disposed to compassionate and help others. Vine - The present passage is another form of the same exhortation to that rigorous self-judgment which is repeatedly urged upon believers in view of the natural tendency to sit in judgment upon others. But whereas self-judgment is profitable to godliness, judgment of others is a usurpation of the functions of the Lord Jesus And then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone - That is that when he correctly assesses his value and his own work, it will be obvious that it has been God's Spirit Who has accomplished this through him as a vessel of honor. This makes me think of Paul's words in Second Corinthians... Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider ANYTHING as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor 3:5-6+) Indeed, outside of our covenant relationship with the Vine Christ Jesus (cf Jn 15:5) and His empowering Spirit, none of us can boast of anything that God does through us in the spiritual realm! This is a good reminder for all of us, especially when we experience some "successes" in various spiritual activities. We need to remember that it is "from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Ro 11:36+) And as Peter reminds us "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that (HERE IS THE HIGH AND HOLY PURPOSE) in all (HOW MANY?) things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Pe 4:11+) Schreiner has a slightly different take on this passage and places a great deal of importance on the fact that Paul uses the future tense (he will have reason for boasting) - We should note here that the construction is future, “he will have boasting” (τὸ καύχημα ἕξει), and it probably (SO THIS IS HIS SUPPOSITION) refers to the final judgment, to the day when the Lord assesses each person’s work. Therefore, the boasting that is commended here does not relate to this life but to the life of the age to come, and in that day all vain and conceited boasting will disappear. Furthermore, we see in the context that the boasting envisioned is a result of the Spirit’s work in believers (Gal 5:16, 18, 22–23, 25; 6:8). It is the result of the new creation (Gal 6:15). Hence, the boasting is not autonomous here." (Galatians)
Gálatas 6:9
Henry: The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. Continuing on in Second Corinthians, Paul declares a truth that should strengthen and encourage each of us to not lose heart… Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet (Here is Paul's "secret(s)" for keeping one's heart strong and steadfast when tempted to "throw in the towel"!) (1) our inner man is being renewed day by day. For (2) momentary, (3) light affliction is (4) producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we (5) look not at the things which are seen, but (6) at the things which are not seen; (Why should we look by faith at the things which are unseen?) for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:16, 17, 18) (Comment: Re-read this great passage and record the specific reasons we should not lose heart even though we might be in the midst of the Refiner's Fire! Play and ponder the lyrics of Refiner's Fire. What is the greatest desire of your heart?) Rienecker writes that ekkakeo is also used in the papyri in the sense of treating someone badly. It became a Christian technical term expressing the unflagging pursuit of the goal of service to neighbor, or of apostolic ministry, as well as the tautness of the determined heart that does not let up or lose courage. (Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) PRECEPT PRINCIPLE PROMISE PERIL Warren