John Calvin Commentary Galatians 6:4

"But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor." — Galatians 6:4 (ASV)

But let every man prove his own work. By a powerful blow, Paul has already struck down the pride of man. But it frequently happens that, by comparing ourselves with others, the low opinion we form of them leads us to entertain a high opinion of ourselves. Paul declares that no such comparison should be allowed. Let no one, he says, measure himself by the standard of another, or please himself with the thought that others appear to him less worthy of approval. Let him set aside all regard for other people, examine his own conscience, and inquire what is his own work. It is not what we gain by detracting from others, but what we have without any comparison, that can be regarded as true praise.

Some consider Paul to be speaking in irony: “You flatter yourself by a comparison with the faults of others; but if you will consider who you are, you will then enjoy the praise that is justly due to you.” In other words, no praise whatever shall be yours, because there is no one by whom the smallest portion of praise is really deserved.

In conformity with this view, the words that follow, every man shall bear his own burden, are supposed to mean that it is usual for every person to bear their own burden. But the plain and direct sense of the words agrees better with the apostle’s reasoning: “With respect to yourself alone, and not by comparison with others, you will have praise.” I am well aware that the next sentence, which annihilates all the glory of man, has been regarded as justifying the ironical interpretation. But the glorying this passage addresses is that of a good conscience, in which the Lord allows His people to indulge, and which Paul elsewhere expresses in very animated language.

Paul earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day (Acts 23:1).

This is nothing more than an acknowledgment of Divine grace, which reflects no praise whatever on man, but excites him to give God the glory. Such a reason for glorying do the godly find in themselves; and they ascribe it, not to their own merits, but to the riches of the grace of God.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world (2 Corinthians 1:12).

Our Lord himself instructs us:

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:6).

Strictly speaking, He makes no assertion, but leads us to conclude that when a person is valued for their own worth, and not for the faults of others, the praise is just and substantial. The statement is therefore conditional and implies that no one is entitled to be regarded as a good person who is not found to be so, apart from the consideration of others.

Though a reward had been promised to works a thousand times, yet it is not due except by fulfilling the condition of obeying the law perfectly; and how far we all are from that perfection!

Let Papists now go and attempt to force their way into heaven by the merit of works. We cheerfully agree with Paul and with the whole Bible in acknowledging that we are unable to do anything except by the free grace of God, and yet that the benefits resulting from our works receive the name of a reward.