4:14 And my {n} temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as {o} Christ Jesus.
(n) Those daily troubles with which the Lord tried me among you.
(o) For the sake of my ministry.
4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh. The Revised Version follows the best manuscripts: Your temptation, which was in my flesh. His infirmity is meant. It was probably some malady which hindered his work--might have disfigured him, and been a temptation to the Galatians to ridicule and despise him. Probably 2Co 12:7 refers to the same affliction. Both these allusions show that the infirmity was one that he severely felt. But the Galatians
despised not, nor rejected him on that account, but received him heartily, even as
an angel of God, God's messenger.
4:14 And ye did not slight my temptation - That is, ye did not slight or disdain me for my temptation, my thorn in the flesh.
4:12-18 The apostle desires that they would be of one mind with him respecting the law of Moses, as well as united with him in love. In reproving others, we should take care to convince them that our reproofs are from sincere regard to the honour of God and religion and their welfare. The apostle reminds the Galatians of the difficulty under which he laboured when he first came among them. But he notices, that he was a welcome messenger to them. Yet how very uncertain are the favour and respect of men! Let us labour to be accepted of God. You once thought yourselves happy in receiving the gospel; have you now reason to think otherwise? Christians must not forbear speaking the truth, for fear of offending others. The false teachers who drew the Galatians from the truth of the gospel were designing men. They pretended affection, but they were not sincere and upright. An excellent rule is given. It is good to be zealous always in a good thing; not for a time only, or now and then, but always. Happy would it be for the church of Christ, if this zeal was better maintained.
