“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
The only question to be considered in this passage is as to the meaning of the law of Christ. It is generally said to be the law of love, and this is true, but it is more precise than that. The preceding verse enjoins the spiritual one to restore a fallen brother in the spirit of meekness, "considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." The spiritual man, remembering his own liability to fall, is to go in all gentleness to him who has been "overtaken in a fault" or offense, and in grace to identify himself with his condition so as to take his burden of sin and sorrow upon himself, with a view to his succor and restoration.
Now this is exactly what Christ Himself has done perfectly both in life and in death. Thus the evangelist says, "He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Matt. 8:16, 1716When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:16‑17). This was in His life, and concerning His death Peter says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Pet. 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). He was thus both in life and in death the great burden-bearer; in life He took away the infirmities and sicknesses of men with compassion and grace; in death He bore our sins in substitution, as being made sin for us by God when He endured all that was due to us on account of our sins, that He might take them away forever. Both His life and His death were for the glory of God.
There is a great difference between His burden bearing in life and that in His death, but still He was in both the burden-bearer. And the law of Christ is, "Bear ye one another's burdens," and so fulfill the law of Him who is our Lord and example. Love was undoubtedly the motive of all, for, as the Apostle says, He "loved me, and gave Himself for me;" and it is certain that we shall never go and take the burden of our brethren on ourselves unless we are under the constraint of the love of Christ.