Chapter Six
Gal. 6:1. Brethren! If a man be overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness,
Since many among them, thinking to restrain those who were sinning, acted in this under the influence of their own passions, being moved to it by love of authority, he says: "if indeed one falls," that is, is carried away by the force of the demonic, "you who are spiritual, restore him," that is, do not punish, but instruct in a spirit of meekness. He did not say "with meekness," but "in the Spirit of meekness," showing that this is pleasing to the Spirit, and that the lenient correction of sinners is a gift of spiritual grace.
Gal. 6:1. Watch over yourself, lest you also be tempted.
Lest he who corrects another become proud, he warns him: look, he says, and guard yourself, so that you too do not fall into the same thing, having been subjected to temptation by the adversary. And he expressively said: "watching yourself," thereby reminding of human weakness.
Gal. 6:2. Bear one another's burdens,
Since, being human, it is impossible to be sinless, he urges not to judge the sins of one's neighbor harshly, but to bear with them, so that afterward another may also bear with his sins.
Gal. 6:2. and thus fulfill (αναπληρώσατε) the law of Christ.
He did not say: πληρώσατε, but: αναπληρώσατε, that is, fulfill all things together communally, mutually helping one another. For example, let the quick-tempered help the slow, and let the slow restrain his ardent impulses, and thus the former will not sin with the assistance of the latter, and the latter will not sin with the assistance of the former. In this way, extending hands to one another, fulfill the law of Christ through mutual help, each one by his assistance to his neighbor making up for what the other lacks. Indeed, the duty of love requires bearing one another's burdens, because in love is contained the fulfillment of Christ's commandments.
Gal. 6:3. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself.
Again he overthrows pride here, showing that the one who considers himself to be something is nothing, and by this very opinion proves his own nothingness, and deceives not anyone else, but himself.
Gal. 6:4. Let each one examine his own work, and then he will have boasting in himself alone, and not in another,
Let him examine, he says, his own actions carefully (for this is what the word "let him test" means), whether he has done something out of vainglory, or out of hypocrisy, or for some other human reason, and then let him not boast before another. But if he cannot restrain himself, let him boast before himself, that is, subjecting himself to his own judgment, let him consider today's deed better than yesterday's and take pride in a good deed. But the apostle says this by way of condescension, not as a matter of legislation, in order to gradually destroy vainglory of this kind. For having become accustomed not to boast, like the Pharisee, before his neighbors, he will soon cease to boast even before himself.
Gal. 6:5. For each one shall bear his own burden.
Why do you boast before your neighbor? Both you and he will each bear your own burden, and then the work of each will be evaluated. Therefore, when you have a burden and labors, do not boast of your good deed either before others or before yourself.
Gal. 6:6. Let him who is instructed in the word share all good things with him who instructs.
Finally, he speaks about teachers, so that those being instructed by them would help their instructors not in just one thing, but in all good things, providing them food, clothing, showing them honor, goodwill, and everything good in general. For you receive more than what you give: instead of material goods you receive spiritual ones. Therefore he also calls this matter communion, because an exchange takes place. But why did Christ ordain that teachers should receive sustenance from their disciples? For the following two reasons: so that, on the one hand, teachers would not become overly exalted, but, being in need of their disciples, would remain humble, and so that they would devote their time solely to the word, not being concerned about food; and on the other hand, so that the disciples too, through their kindness toward their own teachers, would learn to be the same toward others, and at the same time would not be ashamed themselves when in poverty and need, since their teachers are in the same condition.
Gal. 6:7. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Gal. 6:8. He who sows to his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
Since often some accused teachers of a bad life, despised them, and did not feed them in their poverty, he, although he says this later too: "let us not grow weary in doing good," nevertheless even now shows that one must be generous even toward such teachers, since this expenditure goes toward a spiritual matter. So, comparing expenditures on fleshly matters with spending on spiritual things, he says: if you spend on the flesh, preparing dinners and various delicacies, sowing drunkenness, luxury, and gluttony, then you will reap corruption. For both the food itself perishes and it ruins the body along with it. But if you sow spiritually, that is, spiritual works, showing compassion to all and maintaining temperance, then you will reap eternal life. For God is not mocked or deceived, but will render to each his own at that time. Therefore, it is better to spend on spiritual matters, which include expenditures on teachers, than on fleshly pleasures, which are corruptible and corrupt the body. Because from pleasures and excesses come diseases.
Gal. 6:9. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap, if we do not grow weary.
Now he expresses more clearly that even if those who ask of us were wicked, we should not grow weary in our beneficence toward them. But by pointing out that we should not grow weary, he counsels generosity and unceasing giving. Then, having demanded much, he immediately points to the reward as well, namely: "we shall reap." In what manner? Without growing weary, that is, without any toil, but in complete tranquility. For here, exhaustion and labors are joined with the harvest, but there it is not so.
Gal. 6:10. Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to all, and especially to those of the household of faith.
Just as it is not always convenient to sow, so too with performing works of mercy, as both the virgins and Lazarus show. Therefore, while we have time in this life, let us do good—that is, kindness and mercy—not only to teachers, but also to Greeks and Jews. Of course, assistance should not be rendered to these latter in the same measure as to fellow believers, but greater generosity should be shown to the faithful. For this is what he indicates by the word "especially." But notice how even in this case he distances them from Jewish narrowness: for the law opened the heart toward those of one's own nation, but grace invites land and sea to the table of mercy, though not in equal measure, as has been said.
Gal. 6:11. See how large a letter I have written to you with my own hand.