For every one shall bear his own burden.
εκαστος γαρ το ιδιον φορτιον βαστασει
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He appears to give a commandment forbidding boasting before another, yet by this he also corrects the one who boasts, so that he may not think highly of himself. He brings him to awareness of his own sins and strikes his conscience with the names of burden and bearing a weight.
Why do you boast before your neighbor? Both you and he will each bear his own burden, and then each one's work will be judged. Therefore, since you have a burden and labors, do not boast of a good work either before others or before yourself.
There are many other words that have several meanings and are understood differently in different surroundings and combinations. Sometimes they require special explanation. For example: “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; in evil be infants, but in understanding be mature.” If this sentence is shortened, it will look like this: “Do not be children, but be children!”
And this: “If any of you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish, that he may become wise,” will take this form: “Do not be wise, that you may be wise!” Sometimes sayings are constructed according to this principle in order to exercise the attentive reader.
For example, from the Epistle to the Galatians: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one test his own work, and then he will have his boast in himself alone, and not in another; for each shall bear his own burden.”
If the word “burden” is not understood in different meanings, one may decide that it contradicts itself here. Yet this is one utterance, and the words stand side by side. The one who said, “Bear one another's burdens,” himself immediately says, “Each shall bear his own burden.”
But the burden of mutual infirmity is one thing, and the burden in giving account to God for one's deeds is quite another. The first is borne together with the brethren. The second, one's own, is endured by each person himself.
Each one will bear his own burden, and let him not boast in the burdens of others which they bear.
These words seem to conflict with what was said above: “Bear one another's burdens” (Gal 6:2). Indeed, if each will bear his own burden, there will be no possibility of bearing one another's burden.
But it should be noted that there Paul commanded us, as sinners, to support one another in this life and to serve one another as helpers in the present age. Here, however, he speaks of God's judgment upon us. Namely, we shall be judged not in relation to another's sin, nor by comparison with one worse than ourselves, but according to our own work, either as sinners or as saints. For each will receive his determination on the basis of his own work.
In conclusion, Paul wants the proud to understand that no one is charged with another's sin. Therefore no one should fear associating with a sinner or receiving him when he comes in order to receive benefit.
Do not busy yourself with knowing the deeds of others. For each of us will give account for his own sins.
"Each shall bear his own burden." On the Day of Judgment each must give account for his own work, and therefore the virtues of others will not help here.
The following apostolic words are worthy of special attention and explanation: “Let each one test his own work, and then he will have his boast in himself alone, and not in another. For each shall bear his own burden.” What does it mean to have one's boast only in oneself?
According to Saint Chrysostom, here the Apostle shows that we must be strict judges of our own life, examining what we have done not lightly, but with care. “Take your praise not from comparing yourself with the infirmities of a weak brother, but from comparing yourself with the norm of Christian perfection. If, after strict examination, you find that you answer to that norm, then have your praise in this correspondence, and not in the fact that another is in some measure weaker than you.
The Apostle said this while concealing his intention to remove self-praise entirely” (Bishop Theophan).
To those who are guided and “instructed in the word,” the Apostle commands that they “share in all good things” with those who instruct them (Gal 6:6).
Persistently exhorting them to give the greatest attention to their moral perfection, the Apostle warns against self-deception and self-praise. One should be content with inward consolation in progress, knowing how changeable our state is and how easily inclined it is toward evil.
According to Saint John Chrysostom's explanation, “Here the Apostle shows that we must be judges of our own life, examining what we have done, and not lightly, but carefully. Thus, if you have done something good, consider whether you did it from vainglory, from necessity, from hypocrisy, or from some other human cause. When we carefully examine our works, we shall see that we ourselves are liable to condemnation for many things.”
“To boast is not good. But if you wish to boast, do not boast before your neighbor like the Pharisee. For whoever learns not to boast before his neighbor will soon cease boasting even within himself.” To this Blessed Theophylact adds: “Why do you boast against your neighbor? Both you and he will equally bear your burdens at the judgment, and then each one's work will be tested. Therefore, since you too have a burden, and a heavy one, do not boast against another, nor sound a trumpet within yourself about your good deed.”
“If it happens that someone thinks himself to be something, this is because he has not labored well to determine how insignificant he is in himself. He falls into this sin through the flattery of the mind, which is accustomed to arrogance” (Bishop Theophan).
“Do not be curious to know the affairs of others. For each of us will give an account of his own sins” (Blessed Theodoret).
“Why do you boast against your neighbor? Both you and he will equally bear your burdens at the judgment, and then each one's work will be tested. Therefore, since you too have a burden, and a heavy one, do not boast against another, nor sound a trumpet within yourself about your good deed” (Blessed Theophylact).
“At first sight this seems contrary to what was said above: bear one another's burdens. For if each shall bear his own burden, then it is no longer possible to bear one another's burdens. But there we are commanded, as sinners, to bear with one another in this life and to help one another. Here he speaks of the Lord's judgment upon us. He will recognize us as sinners or saints, not according to another's sins, nor by comparison with those worse than ourselves, but according to our own work, the labor of our whole life. According to this work each will also receive recompense” (Blessed Jerome).
Speaking in this way, the Apostle sets each person's attention before the face of God's judgment. Occupy the mind with this, and you will forget to exalt yourself above others. You will also forget to sound a trumpet about yourself within yourself.
For God's judgment is not like human judgment. He may decide in a manner wholly contrary to our judgment and consciousness, for He sees us more deeply than we see ourselves. The decision of God's judgment is such that one should not expect it to be revised. It will set a seal upon your lot, which will remain unchanged unto ages of ages.
Therefore, since this decision is such, and since we cannot make a reliable favorable prejudgment about ourselves, it is better not to prejudge. Having this fear of an unfavorable decision for us at the judgment, let us strive more and more for deeds and for the disposition of heart. According to the true word of the Lord, condemnation is not foretold for such things. Let us forget what lies behind and stretch forward to what lies ahead (cf. Phil 3:13).
Memory of the judgment is the strongest means not only against self-conceit and exaltation, but also against every other passion and every passionate thought. All the holy ascetics taught this. In their lessons they placed the lesson on remembrance of the judgment first, together with remembrance of God as present everywhere and knowing all things.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 6 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS