Paul is encouraging his fellow Christians to live by the Spirit by staying in relationship with the Spirit. This involves praying to God and studying His Word. We must continue to die to our flesh daily so we won’t give in to our sinful desires. By doing so, the fruit of the spirit will continue to grow in our lives.
In Galatians 5:26 Paul says “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying of each other.” Here Paul addresses two kinds of people – people who provoke and people who envy. Provoking is the stance of someone who is sure of his or her superiority, looking down on someone perceived to be weaker. Envying is the stance of someone who is conscious of inferiority, looking “up” at someone they feel is above them. Paul is saying that both are a form of conceit. If we are conceited, we will provoke and envy each other. Paul’s warning to his fellow Christians is not to let their hunger for honor cause them to despise or envy people.
Galatians 6:1 Paul tells us how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. He explains that if someone is caught in sin, we should confront gently and help to carry one another’s burdens. However, we must watch ourselves that we don’t look down on or judge, thinking that we are not capable of similar or equal sin. If we find ourselves feeling that we are “above” sin, we will destroy not restore. We must remember that love covers over a multitude of sins.
Wendell Butler