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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Galatians 5:15 - 5:15
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The apostle, to enforce the foregoing exhortation to mutual love, urges here the dangerous effects which their animosities and strifes, with their controversies and contentions, would most certainly produce. By biting one another, says he, you will destroy and consume one another; where it deserves a serious remark, that St. Paul compares the enmities and animosities which were amongst them, upon the score of their differences in religion, to the bitings, rendings, and devourings of wild beasts, If ye bite and devour one another; and gives them timely notice of the fatal mischiefs and consequences that will follow thereupon, namely, a total devastation and inevitable consumption of the whole church. Take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. It is a true saying, Odia religionum sunt Acerbissima, There is no such bitter hatred amongst men, as upon the score of religion. As the zeal of the Jews would not suffer an uncircumcised person to live amongst them, so probably these zealous judaizers in Galatia would not suffer those who had cast off legal observances to live quietly and peacably by them; which might give occasion to these words of the apostle, If ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another.
Learn hence, 1. That there ever have been, are, and will be, differences about matters of religion, in the best and purest churches here on earth.
Learn, 2. That these differences may and ought to be managed with great temper and charity.
Learn, 3. That then contentions are highly uncharitable, and I very sinful, when men bite and devour one another.
Learn, 4. That such uncharitable contentions are do prepare and make ready a people for utter destruction; If ye bite, &c.