Galatians 6:6-10

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

taught/teaches (v.6) — instruction by word of mouth through questions and answers — from the Greek word from which we get “catechism”

share (v.6) — fellowship

good things (v.6) — useful things

Paul is writing in verse 6 for the need for the congregation to share temporally to meet the needs of the teacher. But Wuest disagrees …

Now, the Judaizers had precipitated a situation in the Galatian churches in which those who followed their teaching broke fellowship with the true teachers of the Word. Paul is exhorting these to resume their fellowship with their former teachers and share with them in the blessing of grace which their teachers were enjoying. The exhortation is that the disciple should make common cause with the teacher in everything that is morally good and which promotes salvation. This breach that had interposed itself between some of the Galatians and their teachers who had taught them grace (Paul included), could not but interfere with their moral and spiritual life. The Galatians’ growth in grace was largely dependent upon their attending the means of grace afforded by the presence and ministry of the teachers in their midst who had taught them grace. Furthermore, the work of the churches was hindered by this disruption. The disciple is not to leave the sphere of the morally good as Paul taught it, to the teacher alone, and go off to the Judaizers. He is to work in common with his teachers and so promote the spiritual life of the churches.

The interpretation that makes the one taught assume the responsibility for the financial welfare of his teacher is not possible in this instance of the use of the word koinoneo. This is the word Paul used in Philippians 4:15, where he speaks of the obligation of the one taught to make the financial needs of his teacher his own, thus sharing with his teacher his earthly goods inasmuch as the teacher has shared with him his heavenly blessings. But Paul does not use it so here, and for the following reasons: first, the context which speaks both of the evil (6:1-5) and the morally good (6:9-10), is against the interpretation that financial support is in the apostles’ mind here. Second, the context defines the good things as being of a spiritual, not a material nature. Third, it would be the height of folly for Paul to inject such a delicate subject as the pocket book of the saint (delicate in some circles) into the already discordant atmosphere of the Galatian churches, especially when the whole trouble revolved around heretical teaching and not around the finances of the churches. Fourth, if Paul were exhorting the saints to contribute financially to the support of their former teachers, the Judaizers would be quick to say that the apostle was attempting to win the Galatian saints back to grace for financial reasons, since he himself was one of their former teachers. One of the favorite methods of attack adopted by the enemies of Paul was to charge him with commercializing his ministry. He would not lay himself open to this charge by such an unwise act as in the present circumstances exhorting the Galatians to resume their financial responsibility with reference to the material needs of their former teachers. — Wuest, pages 170-171.

deceived (v.7) = led astray — (1 Corinthians 6:9) — in both passages, don’t deceive yourself

God is not mocked (v.7) — won’t be held in contempt. Paul warns the Galatians against being led astray by the Judaizers, and reminds them that they cannot outwit God in doing so, for it will lead to disaster in their lives and chastening from the hand of God (Wuest).

sows (v.7) — (here) spiritually

that (v.7) = that and only that — true in the physical and spiritual realms — Intentions and mistakes don’t matter, there are no exceptions.

sows to (v.8) — in the interests of

sows to the flesh (v.8) — a reference to the Judaizers’ teaching of salvation by works which glorify man

flesh (v.8) — natural needs, desires, proclivities

corruption (v.8) — withdrawal of life and its result, decay

life (v.8) — life (zoe) as a principle in the absolute sense as God has it and gives it. If we sow in the Spirit, our harvest will extend into eternity.

weary (v.9) — discouraged, hopeless

due season (v.9) — in God’s time

We reap in this life (v.9). We may receive some return in this life, but the full harvest is the reward we will receive when Christ returns.

lose heart (v.9) — relax our effort

opportunity (v.10) — an appropriate time. The same word is translated “season” in verse 9. The stress is on looking for opportunities, not just waiting for them to come along.

do good (v.10) — benefit, a summary of verses 1-9. “Do” means to labor, perform, be active.

household (v.10) — one’s own family

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