Galatians 6:1-18 = March 3

Burden Bearing,                      6:1-5

Synopsis:         If a brother sins, restore him in the spirit of gentleness.  Christians must bear one another burdens. The Christian must not be conceited. Each Christian has a burden to bear and must carry the burden.

1          Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Be overtaken in any trespass does not refer to a deliberate sin. It refers to one who is caught unaware by temptations and sins before he realizes the full implications of what he has done.  The term means a slip which might come to a man on an icy road.  Christians who have not sinned in this matter have a responsibility.  They are not to judge him harshly. They are to seek to restore the erring Christian with gentleness back to the right relationship with Christ.  Restore means to mend and bring back to the former relationship.  It is to be done gently, treating the erring brother the way one would like to be treated if the roles were reversed.  Christians need to realize they too might yield to some temptation. This keeps a Christian humble and from being Pharisaic in attitude.

2          Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

A Christian should help his fellow Christian shoulder every burden which befalls him if he is capable of being helpful. A Christian is not only his brother’s keeper; he is his brother’s helper. These burdens might be physical or spiritual.  As one goes through life, he needs the help of others.  When one helps his brother, he is fulfilling the law of Christ which is to love one another as Christ loved him (John 13:34; Galatians 5:4; James 2:8).  Christ not only commanded his followers to love one another, he demonstrated this love in his life (Luke 23:43; 7:36-50; 22:61; John 21:15-17; 5:14; 8:11).

3          For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

One of the worst conditions is to be self-deceived.  When a man thinks of himself better than he is, he is not being honest with himself. He is self-deceived.  A man may think he is too strong spiritually to ever commit a careless sin, or to be unfaithful to Christ.  However, the word of God teaches if a man thinks he stands, he needs to take heed lest he fall (I Corinthians 10:12).  Also, the word of God teaches that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).  It is this spirit of pride such as the Pharisees had in Luke 18:9-14 of which Paul is speaking.  The person who is most gentle with others and understanding are those who have been through experiences and know how trying they are.

4          But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.

One must not go around comparing himself with what others are doing. This is not wise (II Corinthians 10:12). One should compare his work with what the word of God teaches he should be doing.  Then he will have a true evaluation.  He can then correct his mistakes and be encouraged in the things he is doing correctly.  This also helps to keep one humble.

5          For each man shall bear his own burden.

            There are some burdens with which no one can help another person. Each person must assume his own responsibility.  Each man will be judged in accordance with his own deeds (Romans 2:6).  Each person is responsible for what he becomes.

Sowing And Reaping,              6:6-10

Synopsis:         Those who are taught should support those who taught them.  Every man will reap what he sows.  A Christian must do good to all men especially to Christians.

6          But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Paul instructs Christians to give to the preachers who taught them honor, respect, consideration and financial aid.  Paul frequently mentions in his writings that preachers should be supported by the church (I Corinthians 9:11).

7          Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Do not be misled, God cannot be fooled or deceived.  God’s word remains true.  A basic principle of life is that one reaps what he sows.  This is true in the realm of nature.  It is true in the spiritual realm as well.

8          For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.

The person who lives life the way he wants to live it will reap a harvest of sorrow and in the end be eternally lost.  The person who lives in accordance with God’s word will have happiness and in the world to come eternal life. Everyone will reap what he or she sows. There will be no crop failures.  However, a person may believe in Christ, repent of his sins, obey the gospel and be forgiven of his sins, live a faithful Christian life and reap eternal life even though he had previously lived a life of sin.

9          And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Paul now encourages Christians to steadfastness.  Well-doing is a broad term that would include doing all that Christians ought to do.  Well, doing would include bearing another’s burden; however, it would not be limited to this. There is a human tendency to grow weary. Paul teaches one must keep on keeping on and not grow weary. At the proper time according to God’s timetable, one will reap if he perseveres to the end.  There is no question about God’s doing what he has promised, the only question is, will the individual Christian be faithful (Revelation 2:10)?

10         So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith.

Let each Christian do good to everyone as he has an opportunity. Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  Christians must do the same. Christians are to do good to everyone. Their first obligation is to help fellow Christians, the household of faith.

Conclusion,                  6:11-18

Synopsis:         Paul ends the letter with his own hand.  He warns against the Judaizing teachers.  The Judaizing teachers do evil to glory in the flesh.  Christians should glory only in the cross of Jesus Christ.  Men need to follow God’s word and it alone.  Paul ends by asking the grace of Jesus be with them.  Amen.

11         See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.

It was Paul’s custom to have someone else write what he dictated and sign it at the end (II Thessalonians 3:17). Paul is calling attention to the difference in the style of writing.  Paul’s writing is larger than that of his scribe.  This may be for emphasis sake, or it may be that Paul just naturally wrote larger than the scribe.

12         As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Paul summed up his feelings concerning these Judaizing teachers. They were not really interested in the Galatians; they were only interested in themselves.  They wanted to make an outward show.  This has to be referring to the Jews because Gentiles thought circumcision was a crude and gross act.  The Judaizing teachers thought if they could get the Gentile Christians to be circumcised and accept the law, they could escape the persecution of the Jews.  They were looking out for themselves.

13         For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

The false teachers who advocate circumcision and keeping the law of Moses do not keep the law of Moses; therefore, they are hypocrites.  The false teachers wanted the Galatians to be circumcised so they could boast of how many Christians they had persuaded to be circumcised. Today Christians need to make sure their motives are right in preaching the gospel.  One must not preach the gospel just so he can say he has baptized so many.  One must preach the gospel to save men from eternal death and bring glory to God.

14         But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

In answer to the false teacher’s glorying as they worked against Christ and his cross, Paul stated he would glory only in the cross.  In the cross the world had died to Paul so its allure for glory no longer appealed to him, or its threats no longer frightened him. Paul had died with Christ to the world so that he no longer participated in its sinful desires and was not under the penalty of eternal death. Paul uses similar terminology in Galatians 2:20 and 5:24.  Philippians 3:7-8 is pertinent to this discussion.

15         For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

This verse is very similar to Galatians 5:6.  Paul teaches that being circumcised contributes nothing toward being saved.  The only thing, which really matters, is being a new creature in Jesus Christ.  Romans 6:3-4 teaches one becomes a new creature when he obeys the gospel, is baptized for the remission of sins and arises to walk in newness of life.  One becomes a new creature at baptism because this is where he comes into contact with the blood of Jesus and his sins are washed away. 

16         And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be unto them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Those who walk by this rule are those who put their trust in the crucified Christ and do not seek to add to the gospel.  Paul prayed for peace and mercy upon these Christians.  Mercy is God’s love directed toward the sinner whereby he can be saved though he does not deserve it.  The Israel of God is the church.  The true children of Abraham in the Christian age are those who have believed, repented, obeyed the gospel and are living in accordance to the word of God.

17         Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.

Paul had been troubled by the Judaizers.  He has answered them.  Paul was not one of them.  He stood with Christ.  Paul appealed to the scars on his body to prove he belonged to Christ.  The term branded is the figure taken from the life of a slave where he was branded with his master’s name so he could be recovered if he escaped.  Paul was referring to the scars which had been left on his body by the persecutions which he had endured while traveling through Galatia on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:50; 14:19; II Corinthians 11:25; II Timothy 3:10-11).

18         The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren.  Amen.

Grace is the undeserving love of God. This grace was seen in Jesus Christ coming to die upon the cross for mankind.  Lord Jesus Christ is one of the ways Paul likes to refer to Jesus.  Jesus is Lord meaning he is divine and owns Christians.  Jesus means he is the Savior of mankind. Christ means Jesus is God’s anointed one to fulfill God’s great purpose of redemption. To be with your spirit means Christianity was more concerned with the inner man than outward show.  Brethren means Paul’s brothers and sisters in Christ. This letter went a long way toward defeating the heresy of the Judaizing teachers.