The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 329

thie statement. The treepass may be nothing howevet, with the phrase, "meek spirit," less th1m one of the works of the flesh which we havr, in 1 Pet. iii. 4. The meek- before epeoi.fled, • The preposition lv-'l in," ness· or tendernese meant ie that of one not "by "-points to the unhappy con- who, humbly CtJDscious of human infirmity dition in which the delinquent is supposed in general, hie own infirmity included, is to be, out of which it is the business of prepared to be very considerate and gentle Ohristian charity to extricate him. Com- towards the ignorant ancl those out of the pe.1'e the expressions, "die in you:r eins;" woy; loth to use the " rod." Considering '' dead in trespasses ; " and the imagery of a thyself, lest thou also be tempted (t11to,row " enare • of the devil," in 2 Tim. ii. 26. cr,au1'011, µi/1 Kal crl, 11'E1pa.cr6iio); looking to Ye whioh are spiritual, restore suoh a thine own self, le,it thcu also be tempted. one (~µiis ol ,rv•u,i<a1'11tol Ka1'ap.,-l(•.,.• 'TOIi 'l'he change from the plural to the singular .,-o,ov.,-ov). The apoetle intimates that the makes the warning more impressive and ·bueinese of recovering a fallen brother ie searching. The verb t11to,r,'iv in the New one which those Ohristians are not qualified Testament always clenotee looking intently: to undertake who, by reaeon of the etrong aometimes on something to be guarded tincture of the fleeh still exieting in their against, ae Luke xi. 35 and Rom. xvi. 17; more.I character, may themselvee be justly at other timee, at something to be aimed at styled "carnal" (comp. 1 Oor, iii. I). or imitated (2 Cor. iv. 18; Phil. ii. 4; iii. 17). Putting as it were such pereone on one side, The former ie meant here. The Christian the apostle eummone to the work those in is to be on his guard against his own weak whom the Spirit bath gained eo marked an and corrupt nature; lest he withhold help, aecendancy that,: comps.red with the gene- or adequate help; lest in helping he get rality of Chrietiane, they may be classed betrayed into the sin of Pharisaic self- as 'lspiritua1." It was incumbent on such righteousness-the sin of harshness, cen- (he says) not to stand aloof, as if it were not soriousness. The clause ia to be viewed in their concern, or.as if the delinquent were conjunction with the thought 0£ the un- to be .treated ae an enemy or outcast ( comp. ceasing conflict between the flesh and the 2 These. ill. 15), far Iese to indulge them- Spirit mentioned in eh. v. 17. "Tempted,'' e.elves in taking pleasu:re in his inconsistency so as to fall (1 Cor. vii. 5 ; 1 These. iii. 5 ; as illustrating their own spirituality, but to Matt. vi. 13). come forward to his aesietance. Others, Ver. 2.-:Bear ye one another's burdens who might justly feel less qualified to act (lt.>.J.:1,1...,v .,.,¼. fld.P11 {Jau-.,-d.(n,); carry ye, or, in the case themselves, might, however, te.ke be ready to OOTTY, the heavy loads of one from the apoetlu's direction the hint that another. The position of aJ\>..71>,..,,, gives it at least they should lend their eympathy especial prominence ; as it stands here it to the work of their more capable brethren, seems pregnant with the exhortation," Look deeire and pray for their erring brother's not every man only at his own griefs, but recovery, and not exult over his fault. The at the griefs also.of others" (cf. Phil ii. 4). verb tta1'ap.,.!(«v, "to make a thing fit, even, The word {lei.pas, weight, points to un just that which it properly should be," ie excessive weight, such as it is a toil to used in Matt. iv. 21 of repairing nets; l Cor. carry. Matt. x:x. 12, "who have borne the i. 10 of a Christian community restored to burden (fJacr1'Cl.cracr, .,.1, {Jd.po<) and heat of its proper condition of unanimity; 1 Thess. the day." So in Acts xv. 28. In 2 Cor. iii. 10 of making good any lacking of faith. iv. 17, "weight of glory," the phrase, sug- It is used aleo (Liddell and Scott) of setting gested by the double sense of the Hebrew a broken limb. But there is nothing to word lcabhod, indicates the enormous g:reut- show that the apostle has any one particular ness of the future glory. The supposition image of disorder in view. The present that the apostle was glancing at tl:ie burden tcnije of the imperative seems to mean, of Mosaical observances, superseded SB e. " upply yourselves to restore him ; " the matter for care on our part by the burdens 11ctual 11chiovement (tt=ap.,-lcran) may not be of our brethren, seems far-fetched. These in their power. In the spirit of meekness " heavy loads" are those which a man (,v ,rv•vµam ,rp'!,OTTrros); in a spirit of brings upon himself by acts of trans- mee1,ness. We have the same phrnse in gression : such as an uneasy conscience ; 1 Cor. iv. 21, "Shall I come to you with a difficulties in his domestic, social, or Church ro<l, 'or in love and a spirit of meekuess?" 1·clutions ; pecuniary embarrassments ; or 'fhe term " spirit" seems 11s it wel'e to hover uthor. But the precept seems to go beyorn\ between the sense of the Holy Spirit and the requirements of the particulur case of of that particular condition ~f ?Ur own a. peccant brother wluch has suggested it, spirit whioh is produced by bis mfluence and to take in all tile needs, spiritual or (compare" spirit of adoption," Rom. viii. 15). secul11r, which we are subject to. (For But the latter eeems here the one more {Jacr.,-d.(.. v of c,urying a toilsome burden, illlmediately intended. lt is not identical, comp. Matt. viii. 17; John xix. 17; Aot~ 296 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. (cu. vr. 1-18,