“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
One another’s burdens. This is not contrary to what is added ver. 5, that every one shall bear his own burden, because in the first place the sense is, that we must bear patiently with one another’s faults and imperfections; in the second, that every one must answer for himself at God’s tribunal. (Witham) — Every one has his failings and weaknesses, and stands in need of indulgence from his brethren; he must, therefore, grant to them what he so much desires to receive from them. (Calmet)
“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
Communicate….in all good things: by this communication, is understood an assisting of others in their wants. (Witham) — Such as are blessed with the goods of this world, should gladly communicate a share of their efforts to the preachers and teachers of the true faith; and this not merely as a return for what they have received, but also that they may be made thereby partakers of their merit. (St. Augustine, lib. 2. evang. quæst. q. 8.)
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
This is addressed to the avaricious, who, under various pretexts, excused themselves from contributing to the support of their teachers. But they are here informed, that their excuses will not screen them from the anger of God. (Calmet)
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
He that soweth in his flesh, &c. The apostle represents the flesh and the spirit like two fields, on which men sow good or bad seed, according to which they shall reap. (Witham)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Works of mercy are the seed of life everlasting, and the proper cause thereof, and not faith only.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
The household of the faith: those who profess the same true faith. (Witham) — We are more bound to assist Christians than Jews; Catholics than heretics. (St. Jerome, q. 1. ad Hedibim.)
“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”
What a letter I have written….with my own hand. St. Jerome understands this of what he is now beginning to write, the rest being written by the hand of another. Others understand the whole letter. (Witham) — St. Chrysostom, Theophylactus, and Theodoret, suppose that the apostle wrote the whole epistle with his own hand, and here excuses himself for writing so ill the Grecian letters, which were so very different from those of his native language. But St. Jerome understands, that he wrote only this latter part of the epistle, as a testimony that the whole came from him. (Calmet)
“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
He tells them the false teachers would have them circumcised first, to avoid persecution from the Jewish party; and secondly to glory in having made them their proselytes. (Witham)
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. by whom: or, whereby”
As for my part, I will glory in nothing but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, but in Christ crucified. (Witham)
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
But a new creature; but to be born anew, to receive the spiritual life of grace. (Witham)
“From henceforth let no man trouble me : for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body, by the stripes and wounds I have received for preaching the gospel. (Witham) — Formerly it was not unusual to stamp certain characters on the bodies of soldiers, fugitives, and of domestics, purposely to distinguish them.