Galatians 6:7-9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 6:9

Verse 9 9.Let us not be weary in well-doing. Well-doing ( καλὸν) does not simply mean doing our duty, but the performance of acts of kindness, and has a reference to men. We are instructed not to be weary in assisting our neighbours, in performing good offices, and in exercising generosity. This precept is highly necessary; for we are naturally reluctant to discharge the duties of brotherly love, and many unpleasant occurrences arise by which the ardor of the best disposed persons is apt to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:6-10

The seed-time of philanthropy. Paul has just spoken of the most delicate and precious form of philanthropy—that which deals with a brother's sins. And now he passes on to speak, just for a moment, of the duty which the Galatians owe to their spiritual teachers. They are pre-eminently the unburdeners of men's hearts; they undertake as life's chief work the ministering to minds diseased. Let them be considered, therefore, and receive all good things from those they serve. But he passes on to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:6-10

Well-doing. I. THE MODE OF SUPPORTING THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY , "But let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." It is implied that there is to be, in the Christian Church, an order of men whose function it is to teach in the Word. Where these give their whole time and attention to their work, which, as a general arrangement, is most advisable, it is necessary that provision should be made for their temporal support. The mode of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived ( μὴ πλανᾶσθε ). So 1 Corinthians 6:9 ; 1 Corinthians 15:33 . Let nothing lead you astray from the conviction, that in the conformity of your real aims and actual practice with the dictates of God's Spirit, and in that alone, can you hope for eternal life. God is not mocked ( θεὸς οὐ μυκτηρίζεται ); God is not derided. The verb μυκτηρίζειν , to writhe the nostrils ( μυκτῆρας ) at one in scorn, to sneer at him, occurs frequently in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:7-8

The two sowings and the two reapings. The Galatians were probably disposed to find excuses for avoiding the responsibility of supporting their religious teachers. The apostle warns them of the danger of self-deception, and, above all, of the danger of imagining that a man may sow to the flesh and yet expect to reap the fruits of the Spirit. Mark— I. THE SOLEMN WARNING AGAINST SELF - DECEPTION . "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Whether the self-deception arise from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:7-8

Sowing and reaping. The Galatians appear to have been niggardly in their contributions for the support of their Christian teachers (verse 6). St. Paul warns them that such conduct will tell against themselves (see Proverbs 11:24 ). The principle on which he bases his admonition is one of deep significance and wide application. No doubt the apostle wished it to be impressed upon his readers in all its bearings as well as in relation to the particular case that led him to mention it. I.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:8

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption ( ὅτι ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν ); for he that soweth unto his own flesh , shall of the flesh reap corruption. "Fort" the causal force of the particle ὅτι , properly "because," is here greatly attenuated, being employed to introduce a sentence commending to acceptance the foregoing one, simply by a detailed exposition of particulars illustrating its meaning. This is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well-doing ( τὸ δὲ καλὸν ποιοῦντες μὴ ἐγκακῶμεν [Textus Receptus, ἐκκακῶμεν ]); but in doing that which is good , let us not flag. That is, some sow unto their own flesh, some unto the Spirit; let us be of those who do that which is commendable; and not that only; let us do it with an unflagging spirit. Such seems to be the swaying of thought in the sentence; hence the position of the participial phrase before the verb: the participle is not a mere... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:9

Encouragement to perseverance in well-doing. The apostle enlarges the compass of his exhortation so as to include well-doing in general. Consider— I. WELL - DOING IS THE DUTY , THE DIGNITY , THE DESTINY , OF BELIEVERS . 1 . "We are , as God ' s workmanship , created unto good works. " ( Ephesians 2:10 .) 2 . It is " good and profitable to men " that believers should be careful to maintain good works. These works are to be "maintained for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 6:9

Weariness in well-doing. I. THE CONDITION OF WEARINESS IN WELL - DOING . 1 . It is a feeling , not at present a change of action. The well-doing is continued in spite of weariness. Our moods vary, and we can scarcely be held to be responsible for them. The essential thing is that we do not cease working. 2 . It is very different from being weary of well-doing. We may grow weary in our work and yet be most anxious for the success of it. Such weariness is a common... read more

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