In the Spirit of Meekness

Galatians 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. 

‘Overtaken’ [Greek: prolambano] found out or detected.

‘Fault’ [Greek: paraptoma] a falling aside, when one should have stood upright; a moral fall; a fall from truth and grace.

‘Spiritual’ [Greek: pneumatikos] non-carnal; religious; or spiritual.

‘Restore’ [Greek: katartizo] to adjust; put in order again; restore; repair; settle by mediation. It means to bring back to his place in Christ and in grace.

‘Spirit of meekness’ [Greek: praotes] the disposition to be gentle, kind, indulgent, even balanced in tempers and passions, and patient in suffering injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge.

‘Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’ Do not exalt yourself as being above the same fall (1Cor. 10:13; 13:1-13).

‘Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.’ Sympathize, show mercy and love, and do not brow-beat a fallen brother, and so fulfil the law of Christ (6:1-2; John 13:34; 15:12).

‘Think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.’ Bigotry, intolerance, and conceit rebuked (6:3-4; Isa. 65:5; Mark 2:16; Luke 18:9-14; Acts 10:28, 45; Rom. 3:1-23). Examples of bigotry: Joshua (Num. 11:27-29); some Jews (John 4:9, 27; 9:28-34); some Samaritans (Luke 9:52-53); the disciples (Matt. 19:13; Luke 9:49-56); Saul (Acts 9:1-5; 22:3-4; 26:9); some early Christians (Acts 11:1-3).

‘Prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.’ Test his own work and conduct by the law of Christ and not by others, and he will find out just what he has in himself to boast about (6:2-4).

‘Burden’ [Greek: phortion] load, responsibility (Matt. 11:30; 23:4; Luke 11:46). Every man must do this for himself, but one can help share the baros (burden, Gal. 6:2), grief, misery, and pressure of another.