Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 5:26

"Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another." — Galatians 5:26 (ASV)

Let us not be desirous of vain glory. The word used here, kenodoxoi, means proud or vain of empty advantages such as birth, property, eloquence, or learning. The reference here is probably to the paltry competitions that arose because of these supposed advantages. It is possible that this might have been one cause of the difficulties existing in the churches of Galatia, and the apostle is anxious to completely check and remove it.

The Jews prided themselves on their birth, and people everywhere are prone to overvalue the supposed advantages of birth and blood. Paul's doctrines are that in great and most vital respects people are on a level; that these things contribute nothing to salvation (see the notes on Galatians 3:28); and that Christians should consider them of little importance and not allow them to interfere with their fellowship or spoil their harmony and peace.

Provoking one another. The sense is that those who are desirous of vain glory provoke one another. They provoke those whom they regard as inferiors by a haughty bearing and a contemptuous manner towards them. They often look upon them with contempt, pass them by with disdain, and treat them as beneath their notice; and this, on the other hand, provokes resentment, hatred, and a disposition to take revenge.

When people regard themselves as equal in their great and vital interests; when they feel that they are fellow-heirs of the grace of life; when they feel that they belong to one great family and are, in their great interests, on a level; deriving no advantage from birth and blood; on a level as descendants of the same fallen forefather; as being themselves sinners; on a level at the foot of the cross, at the communion table, on beds of sickness, in the grave, and at the bar of God—when they feel this, then the consequences referred to here will be avoided. There will be no haughty bearing such as to provoke opposition, and, on the other hand, there will be no envy because of the superior rank of others.

Envying one another. This is because of their superior wealth, rank, talent, or learning. The true way to cure envy is to make people feel that in their great and important interests they are on a level. Their great interests are beyond the grave. The distinctions of this life are temporary and are comparatively trivial.

Soon all will be on a level in the grave, at the bar of God, and in heaven. Wealth, honor, and rank are of no use there. The poorest person will wear as bright a crown as the rich; the one of most humble birth will be admitted as near the throne as the one who can boast the longest line of illustrious ancestors.

Why should a person who is soon to wear a crown incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, envy the one who has a ducal coronet here, or a royal diadem—baubles that are soon to be laid aside forever?

Why should one, though poor here, who is soon to inherit the treasures of heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, envy the one who can walk over a few acres as his own, or who has accumulated a glittering pile of dust, soon to be left forever?

Why should one who is soon to wear the robes of salvation, made white in the blood of the Lamb, envy the one who is clothed in purple and fine linen, or who can adorn himself and his family in the most gorgeous attire that art and skill can make, soon to be replaced by the winding-sheet, soon to be succeeded by the simple garb that the most humble wears in the grave?

If people feel that their great interests are beyond the tomb, that in the important matter of salvation they are on a level, and that soon they are to be undistinguished beneath the clods of the valley, how comparatively unimportant it would seem to adorn their bodies, to advance their name and rank, and to improve their estates! The rich and the great would cease to look down with contempt on those of more humble rank, and the poor would cease to envy those above them, for they are soon to be their equals in the grave—their equals, perhaps their superiors, in heaven!