Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Galatians 4:17 - 4:17
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
They, that is, the false apostles, pretend great love to you, and a zealous affection for you; but not well, not upon honest and just grounds. There is often an ill cause, which is to be condemned and avoided; zeal is a mixed affection of love and anger working into a fervency of mind, in defending what we believe to be true and good, and in opposing what we judge to be false and bad; they zealously affect you, but not will. Nothing is more common, and consequently more dangerous, than for heretical teachers to pretend great zeal for the glory of God, and great love and affection to the people of God, whilst they are about to persuade them to embrace their pernicious errors and damnable heresies. He adds, Yea, they would exclude you, that you might affect them: Exclude you, that is, from the liberties and privileges of the gospel, say some; from depending upon me, or any faithful pastor, say others; they would ingratiate themselves, that they may ingross you, and you may affect them only. The old practice has ever been amongst seducers, first to alienate the people's minds from their own teachers, and next get themselves looked upon as alone, and only worthy to have themselves looked upon as alone, and only worthy to have room in the people's hearts and affections; They would exclude you from us, and us from you, only that you might affect them.