in a spirit of meekness; - as in 5:23, above. Cp. 1 Corinthians 4:21. Lightfoot's comment is to the point: "Gentleness is a characteristic of spirituality. By their conduct toward wrongdoers their claim to the title 'spiritual' would be tested." It is necessary to discriminate, however. A spirit of meekness does not mean an easygoing toleration of evil. On the contrary, it is intolerance of evil that provides the occasion for the manifestation of the meek spirit. The Lord Jesus possessed the balanced temperament; intolerance of evil because it is evil, and meekness in dealing even with evil men, in Him were in perfect equipoise, and he is the pattern of His people. No doubt this grace of Christ for emphasis here inasmuch as, in dealing with the erring, men are tempted to self-righteousness and to censoriousness, and to the assumption of an air of superiority which is hurtful as much to the would-be physician as to the patient. Cp. 2 Timothy 2:25.
from pages 193-194, Vine's Expository Commentary on Galatians
from pages 193-194, Vine's Expository Commentary on Galatians