Galatians 6:6-9

Scott Rasco

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Previously, throughout the book of Galatians Paul presents with strong conviction his understanding of God’s grace. Early in the book he speaks very strongly against the Jews who were demanding the Christian’s to take on the law as an act of faith in God. He even confronted Simon Peter when they had returned to Jerusalem for one of the first councils of the New Testament Church.

Galatians 6:6–9 ESV

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:6–10 ESV

Previously, throughout the book of Galatians Paul presents with strong conviction his understanding of God’s grace. Early in the book he speaks very strongly against the Jews who were demanding the Christian’s to take on the law as an act of faith in God. He even confronted Simon Peter when they had returned to Jerusalem for one of the first councils of the New Testament Church.

When we get to Paul is admonishing the church to remain in the teachings they have been taught. In the church of Galatia, the Jewdaizers began teaching Christians to take on the acts of the law. They then taught the new Christians to stop having fellowship with other Christians who were not following the acts of the law. So Paul tells the church that they need to fellowship, in other words partnership, with other believers who are following the truth of grace.

In Paul exhorts spirit filled believers to restore and bring back the believers who have been caught up in the lies of the Judaizers for they were not truly teaching the Word of God and his Grace. He also reminds them to reconcile those fell away from the Church. These individuals chose to seek after the flesh and not after the Grace of God.

Galatians 6:7 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

When it comes to translations of the Word, I don’t stick only with one translation but consult many translations as well as looking at the Greek or Hebrew translations to better understand what the Bible is saying.

Here most translations say, “Do not be decieved,” but the verbs used here do not actually speak of a warning, “Do not let your self be decieved in the future.” Rather it refers to an action that has been on going previously.

Paul is not warning them about a future deception, but a deception that is currently going on. A better understanding might be, “Stop Decieving yourself,” or “stop letting yourselves be decieved.”

They were already being decieved. The Judaizing Christians had already been mocking God’s Grace. They were already decieving the Christians by teaching them to combine law instead of grace.

The Greek word for mocked literally means for one to stick his or her nose in the air in a mocking or a disrespectful fashion.

His statement, “Whatsoever a man soes that shall he also reap,” reminded the Jews that no matter what a person does they will reap what the sow. Those who sowed deception would reap the reward of their deception.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Who sows to the flesh?

Typically speak of those who sow the sinful fleshly desires, they will reap corruption, destruction, ultimately death.

However contextually, since Paul was writing about legalism and the law it can easily be seen that Paul refered to the acts of legalism as acts of the flesh. When we attempt to follow God through our own ability and selfwill instead of relying on his ability and grace, we are acting in the flesh.

Throughout Jesus’ life he told his deciples many times that the pharisees were seeking after the flesh. They were recieving their rewards from men not from God. The more we attempt to give into the temptation of self-rightousness the more we reap corruption in our lives and our walks with Christ.

Legalism appeals to the fallen nature of hamankind. The fallen nature of humanity is proud and finds solice in ones own ability. When we live trusting in our own abilities and not in the act of Grace through faith, we are dwelling in our our pride. Through the law, the pharisees were not changed or regenerated by God. They basically lived in their own works which led them to fulfill their own wishes while appearing righteous and holy to those around them.

Following the work of the Christ we were now regenerated by Christ, no longer relying on the self sacrificial system of our own attempts to righteousness. We now rely fully on the Grace of God.

When one relies on their own abilities he or she is relying on the old nature, the nature of the flesh, and the old covenant. To sow to the spirit, one allows the holy spirit to make way for eternal life.

The word for corruption is the same word as perish. Just like a fruit left out in the sun will perish, currupt, or break down, the things of the flesh will do the same. The more we seek the fleshly nature, the more we seek things that will ultimately fade away. They will decay. Riches will decay, pleasure will not last, but the things of the spirit will last forever.

Often times people offer up excuses for their life. When someone believes that they are saved based on their own works they basically mock God saying, “I can do it better than following God’s way.”

They make excuses like:

I’m a good person

I believe in Jesus

I give to the needy

There are many ways to God

I’m not as bad as that person

The day will come when all of those excuses will perish. They will pass away. However, those who follow after the spirit will reap the harvest of the spirit. We will reap things that are eternal.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

In the final verse Paul concludes with this word of exhortation, “Do not grow weary in doing good.”

Here “Grow weary” means to lose heart, or to lack motivation. Paul tells the people don’t allow yourself to give up and lose motivation because when the harvest time comes you will recieve your harvest.

The very final part of the phrase ends with, “if you do not give up.”

The word for give up is ekluo. Ek mean to pull away, and luo is I make loose. Ekluo was a a term used to refer to harvesters who would become exhausted by the heat and work of harvesting. It basically could be describled as loosened joints.

Think of when you put out increased physical exertion and your arms and legs feel like they could fall off. That is what Paul is talking about.

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