Galatians 6:3

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Self-conceit, the chief hindrance to forbearing sympathy toward our fellow-men, must be laid aside. SOMETHING - possessed of some spiritual pre-eminence, and exempt from the frailty of other men. WHEN HE IS NOTHING - `being, after all, nothing' (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 8:2). DECEIVETH HIMSELF, [ frenapata (G5422)] - 'he mentally deceives himself.' To test his own work (his whole course, 1 Peter 1:17), and judge by it, not by his mental fancy, is th...

3._For if a man think himself_. There is an ambiguity in the construction, but Paul’s meaning is clear. The phrase, _When he is nothing_, appears at first view to mean, “if any person, who is in reality nothing, claims to be something;” as there are many men of no real worth who are elated by a foolish admiration of themselves. But the meaning is more general, and may be thus expressed: “Since all men are nothing, he who wishes to appear something, and persuades himself that he is somebody, deceives himself.” First, then, he declares that we are nothing, by which he means, that we have nothing of our own of which we have a right to boast, but are destitute of every thing good: so that all our glorying is mere vanity. Secondly, he infers that they who claim something as their own deceive themselves. Now, since nothing excites our indignation more than that others should impose upon us, it...

1-5 We are to bear one another's burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards each other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another's burdens, as fellow-travellers. It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. How light soever men's sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heavy burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can...

Verse Galatians 6:3. _IF A MAN THINK HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING_] i.e. To be a proper Christian man; _when he is nothing_; being destitute of that _charity_ which _beareth, hopeth_, and _endureth_ all things. See 1 Corinthians 13:1, c. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, c., while they are _harsh, censorious_, and _overbearing_, prove that they have not the _charity_ that _thinketh no evil_ and in the sight of God are only as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. There are no people more censorious or uncharitable than those among some religious people who pretend to more light and a deeper communion with God. They are generally carried away with a sort of sublime, high sounding phraseology, which seems to argue...

FOR IF A MAN THINK HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING ... - see Galatians 5:26. This is designed, evidently, to be another reason why we should be kind and tender to those who have erred. It is, that even those who are most confident may fall. They who feel secure, and think it impossible that they should sin, are not safe. They may be wholly deceived, and may be nothing, when they have the highest estimate of themselves. They may themselves fall into sin, and have need of all the sympathy and kindness of their brethren. WHEN HE IS NOTHING - When he has no strength, and no moral worth. When he is not such as he apprehends, but is lifted up with vain self-conceit. HE DECEIVETH HIMSELF - He understands not his own character. “The worst part of the fraud falls on his own head” - Doddrid

EXPOSITION GALATIANS 6:1 BRETHREN, IF (or, _although_)_ _A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT (ἀδελφοί ἐὰν καὶ προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτέματι);_ brethren_',_ if even a man hath been overtaken in some trespass. _"Brethren;" the compellation so introduced betokens a somewhat pathetic urgency: el. above, Galatians 3:15; Galatians 4:31; Galatians 5:11. But Philippians 3:13,...

FOR IF A MAN THINK HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING,.... Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation: WHEN HE IS NOTHING: of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation: HE DECEIVETH HIMSELF: and will find himself sadly mistaken, and wretchedly disappointed another day; or whoever thinks himself to be some famous and excellent person, to be something more, and better than others, of a more excellent nature, and of greater abilities, that he is free from sin, or at least holier than others, and not liable to fall as others, whom he looks up...

Galatians 6:1. _Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,_ He is a slow traveler; he is not speeding swiftly on the way to heaven, so the fault overtakes him. Had he been quicker of pace, he might have outstripped it; but he is «overtaken in a fault.» What then? Turn him out of the church? Have done with him? No. «If a man be overtaken in a fault,» Galatians 6:1. _Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;_ Pick him up, help him to run better than he did before. Galatians 6:1. _Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted._ Paul does not say, «Lest thou also fall;» but, «Lest thou also be tempted,» as much as to say, «

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. Concerning the Restoration of a brother. (Galatians 6:1)_ 2. Concerning Reaping and Sowing. (Galatians 6:6) 3. The conclusion. (Galatians 6:11) Practical exhortations conclude the defense of the gospel. The previous chapter stated that they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh and its lusts. In the beginning of this chapter the treatment to be accorded to a man (a brother) who has been overtaken in a fault is given. The law would demand the cutting off of such a one. It is harsh and merciless. But grace bears a different message. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,

Third safeguard. If things become bad and a Christian falls into open fault, loving Christian friends (acting as individuals rather than as a church? But, on any view, the verse is an important contribution towards a theory of church discipline) may restore him again. The only thing which could hinder this would be self-righteous pride, which thwarts all good. By thus bearing each other's burdens, we fulfil Christ's true law if we are humble. If, however, we think ourselves too good to sympathise with our stumbling brothers, we are deluded. Let us look closer into our own hearts and lives! It is quite true that, in the end, every one is to answer for himself to God (_cf._ Romans 14:12) and to bear his own load (_mg._; a different word from that rendered burdens in Galatians 6:2; not that anything is to b