Professor of New Testament Language and Literature Talbot Theological Seminary
In fact, more than just privilege is involved; there is also obliga tion. First and foremost, verse seven is a command instead of a promise. Trying to bear the burden alone, far from being noble, is equated to the sin of pride. The important spiritual principle, in the grammat ical terminology of Alford, is: "This participial clause [verse seven] is explanatory of the former impera tive one [verse six], inasmuch as all anxiety is a contradiction of true humility'' (Henry Alford, The Greek Testament, IV, 385; italics added). To be anxious about circumstances, thus, is to be proud. Page 7
feel he will crack under such a tremendous load. He knows that something must give way, because as tensions mount, he finds they are more than he can bear. Yet verse seven says there is no need to break down; it is not the Christian's part to shoulder these pressures: "Casting the whole of your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you." The proper course is to pass them along to the One who has allowed the circumstances to materialize. Passing along such anxiety is a great privilege and constitutes an aspect of humility which is inward.
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