The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 372

Ver. 1.-Resf.oring the erring. In all tbo writings of St. Paul there Is no more Christ-like utterance tl:um thi11. It breathes the very spirit of him who came to ~oelt and to save the lost. It ~eems to be addreBBed ln pe.rt!tular to tire moro spiritual members of the Galstian Churches-to those who had not been oarried a\Vll.y in•,tho tide of fashionable Judaizing. There W&B &~anger lest the seveni rebuke admiui.stered by the apostle to their erroneous brethren should: provoke a vain and censorious ·i!pirit in these men. St. Paul warns them of that danger (eh. v. 26), and points 1out· the ri~ht course that is open t,o them. Instead of judging they were to help to restore the fallen in all gentleness and humility. · • •· " · •.. • 1 ,,, , I. THE DUTY oF RESTORING THE ERRING. Too often they are harshly •judted, con- demned, despised, crushed, so that if they are strong they are confirmed in thoir--errors by pride and motives of sheer self-<lefence, and if they are weak they· become reckless and despairing and a ready prey for greater evils. The censorious will have to. antwer for the te1Tible resporuribility of confirming guilt and checking repentance. ,fo no case i11 it ours to judge. But to brand and ostracize the guilty is to incur the heavy,gu.ilt ·of those who make others to sin. How different would the history of the Church have been if, instead of the controversy which aims only at silencing opponen·ts, ·there ·hau been the counsel that seeks a.t restoring brethren I But· it is important' to' see that there should be no aim short of resf.oring the erring. That is a' false charitY' which ignores sins in others. They must be faithfully pointed out and earnestly opposoo. The great end must not be mere punishment nor easy indifference, but restoration. II. THE PERSONS CHAitGED WITH THIS DUTY. The spiritual. ·It requires 'such, foriit is a delicate duty. We are not all fit for it. Spirituality should·produce charjty. The spiritual are not t.o withdraw from their weaker brethren in Pharisaic pride. Sullh pride, indeed, is a proof of utter unspirituality. No nobler mission can be oJien:to the purest souls than that of restoring the erring. It was. Chr.ist's great work, ,and 1 lre docs not liberate his people from the duty of taking their share in it. The Dio~e a mllil has of the spirit of Christ the bettenvill he be able to·succeed in this beautiful Iabiour of love. .._: ' 1 • • .. •,./ ·i:·,;' r ill Tm: SPIJUT IN WHIOB THE DUTY IS ·TO llE CARRIED OUT. 1. Oharity. ·' Con$ider that the unfortnnate man has been " overtaken" in a trespass. Make due allowance for the peculiar form of the temptation under which he fell and for 'the eilrprise -with which it came upon him. 2. Meekness. The dnty is not to scold, bnt to beat·· .';rl::le healer of eonls must show the utmost possible gentleness, consideration for wowded pride, and respect for natural reserve, and .should do all he can not to humiliate ·,'tb'e offender more tha.u is necessary, nor to injure his self-respect. 3. Hutnilit9: • "Loo~ to thyself, lest thou also be tempted." It is not n~s~ry ~ appear immaculat~ •i'p order to restore another. The pride of assumed supenor1ty will be the worst 'poss11ile hind.ranee in such a work. It is well to remember that, if we had' met thfl'.'Eial'l:ie temptation, we might have had even a more grievous fall. And some ,iiay oll'r' 1tii:zi111 may come, and then the present offender may be our restorer. Let the work be don:~, then, as by a brother to a brother.-W. F. A. Ver. 2.-The law of Christ. The Galatians have been hankering _after:' the L11w. ,Jf J uda.iem., as though some counsels of _perfection could be found thereirl for d.d4ing ~igher virtue to the graces of Christiamty. • "1f you want a law:," says_ St. Paul1_;• take this rule of mutual sympathy-bear ye one another's burdens. ' Christ_ ,)ias Ins fuw,,,tli,eo, after all. It is not a ceremonial observance, but it is high enough for· the' ambition ',uf tLe nobiest self-sacrifice. . . .• . , 1 CHRIST EXPECTS UB TO TAKE DEEP INTEREST IN ONE. ANOTHER,, Christianity ,is unselfish. To think that Q,ll we have to do is to save our own' sou}.s is1:wroisunderstahfi the re~on of Christ c~mpletely. ~e who would thus ll8Ve his \IO~l w)ll lo.se it , tti,c gospel IS a g01Spel to us Jost because 1t calls us out of ourselves ana leads us 4) qCl\Y ourselves and practise active charity. . '. • . . . .r ll. Ou11 lil'ECHL U.TE!l.EST SHOULD llE DRAWN TOWABD8 TUE 'TBOUBLE)> .OF 0TUEl,ri.  THE EPIS'IILE 1'0 TlilE GALATIANS. 839