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Note from Daniel: Jonny is an old friend of mine who has visited Mabelvale before. It's always good to think about how we can help each other out!

You Who Are Spiritual, Whoever That Is…

Paul says in Galatians 6 that it is the job of those who are "spiritual" to restore anyone caught up in or burdened by trespasses. Who are the "spiritual"? Does this mean it is only the job of choice disciples? Is Paul limiting this encouragement to people that have a particular spiritual gift?

This verse is more straightforward than we give credit; treating scripture like a mine to be excavated has ruined this verse for us. (We skip over coal and common gems until we find something that appears to be a diamond. When we see that diamond, we get excited and forget where we are. If we don't remove it slowly and carefully, the cave will tumble in on us... ) Conversely, Galatians 6 is not an island to itself but a continued discussion of the previous chapter.

[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident… (Galatians 5:16-19)

Notice carefully how Galatians 5 mentions the word "Spirit" more than any other chapter in the book. In this previous chapter, Paul gives us the identifying marks of spiritual people. They are anybody who has hope through faith in Christ (Galatians 5:5). The Spiritual are the ones who are actively walking and being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-19). They are those who are animated by God's life-giving breath and are encouraged to keep in step with the Spirit that gives that life (Galatians 5:25).

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ. (Galatians 5:25-6:2)

This labor (or burden) of love (parenthetical pun intended) is upon every disciple. Every person with hope, direction, and life through the Spirit carries this obligation. The second key to interpreting this passage in its context is understanding the authorial purpose of Paul's use of the term "burden." He uses that term purposefully after writing an entire letter about freedom (Galatians 2:4; 5:1; 5:13).

Jesus isn't about brother-burdening; He’s about burden-bearing.

This term "Burden" comes at the end of a letter whose whole purpose was dealing with Judaizing Christians weighing down their gentile brothers with unnecessary "burdens.". If you allow some poetic license, I think Paul's flow or direction of rhetoric is this:

"stop making it harder for your brother to be a disciple by burdening him with the Law of Moses. Being a disciple of Jesus isn't about brother-burdening; it's about burden-bearing.".

This context gives the phrase double the weight. Not only should Spirit-led people bear people's burdens, but they also shouldn't be putting burdens on people in the first place.

So to accommodate some language throughout the book, will we go back to the Law that imprisons everyone under sin, or will we embody the Gospel in living out true freedom? Will we use this freedom as an opportunity to imprison ourselves and others or to serve? Will we burden our brothers, or will we bear their burdens?

-By Jonny Royal, originally here