Bible Commentaries
Galatians 6

Verse 1

HELPING BROTHERS

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1

In this and in the following verses we are given some practical ways by which we can "walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) and ways by which the "fruit of the Spirit" (5:22-23) can be manifested in our lives.

If someone is caught in a sin we should restore that person gently. Vincent says the word "restore" (Gk. katartizete), has to do with reconciling factions, setting broken bones, equipping, or mending nets.^(F1) Here we can imagine that a brother or sister is standing before us writhing in pain with a broken arm. It needs immediate attention and we may have to play the part of the doctor if there is not one around. Obviously, we would have to be very gentle with our assistance or the patient would surely scream out in pain. We remember that gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit and is mentioned earlier by Paul in 5:23.

We should note that the expression "caught in a sin" used here does not speak of awful and weighty sins or some grave deliberate disobedience. It has more to do with being inadvertently involved in some wrongdoing or in making a mistake. There is definitely the "unwitting" element involved in this sin.^(F2)

Paul says that those who are spiritual should correct such a one. As we have seen, all the Galatian believers had received the Spirit. It seems likely however from what we know that all of them were not all walking in the Spirit. Some had definitely gravitated back to the flesh. Only the spiritual were prepared to help the fallen and hurting one.

Trying to help another Christian with his or her sin is a delicate and difficult business. We really face a couple of problems. First, we have the immediate temptation to take pride in our own un-fallen position. We may feel a little smug that we didn't fall into such a sin and thus look down on the one who has fallen. Second, we may find ourselves relishing the sin and enjoying every ugly detail. The warning here is that we should closely watch ourselves about our attitude toward the sin and toward the sinner. As the scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10:12, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"

Verses 2-5

BEARING BURDENS

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Probably some of us have seen the old picture of the little boy carrying another on his back. The caption to this well-known picture reads, "He ain't heavy. He's my brother." The Greek word used here for burdens is baros and the word almost always has to do with a heavy load.^(F3)

One thing we notice about the legalists in Galatia. They were not the least bit interested in bearing burdens. In fact, it was their job to add to the burdens of others by placing the demands of the law on their backs. They were much like the Pharisees in Jesus' time who bound burdens upon others but who were not willing to lift a finger to help (Matthew 23:4). Actually, we see in Acts 15:10, that the burdens they were binding on people were impossible to bear.^(F4)

By bearing burdens for others we fulfill the law of Christ. It is generally accepted that this law of Christ is the law of love. Jesus speaks of this law in John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (cf. 1 John 3:23). We know from scriptures like Psalm 55:22, that when our burden gets too heavy we are to cast our burden upon the Lord. However, sometimes we also need other human beings to gather around us and help us get up under our heavy load (cf. Romans 15:1).

Many years ago we had a dear sister who was weighted down with problems. Two other sisters in our group realized this and began to pray for her. They felt so strongly about her heavy burdens that they finally begged that the Lord would put some of her burdens upon them. Their prayer was answered and they immediately began to feel the heaviness of the sister to the point of emotional distress for themselves. However, as the two sisters were suffering all kinds of mental agony, the sister who was afflicted began to be really relaxed and happy. Perhaps this was going to the extremes in burden-bearing but nevertheless it worked. Martin Luther once wrote, "Christians must have strong shoulders and mighty bones – sturdy enough, that is, to carry heavy burdens."^(F5)

"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves" (6:3). It is extremely important that each of us has a realistic understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses. Now that I am over 75 years of age I finally realize that there some things I cannot do and some tasks at which I am not very good. I now try to avoid such things and leave them to others who have gifts and abilities in these areas. It is now my desire to concentrate in the areas of my own gifts and do the things I seem equipped and able to do.

Self-conceit is such a great hindrance in the work of the Lord. Paul says in Romans 12:3, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Remember, "Our conduct toward others is often governed by our opinion of ourselves."^(F6)

"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else," (6:4). We should point out something that has greatly hindered the work of God, and that is our habit of looking at other Christians and demeaning ourselves or judging ourselves by them. God has liberally given his gifts, talents and abilities to each of us. Instead of looking at others we need to look at Christ. Instead of being jealous of other people's gifts we should let the Holy Spirit help us develop the gifts and abilities we have. We need to remember that there is probably something we can do that no one else in all the world can do exactly as we can.

Then Paul says something that seems at first to contradict what he has said before. He advises, "for each one should carry their own load" (6:5). When we look at the Greek here we find that there is no contradiction at all. The word Paul used in 6:2 was baros which meant a very heavy load. The Greek word used here is phortion, and has to do with a lighter load. In fact, phortion was a common name for the man's pack, which he was certainly expected to bear.^(F7) There are some responsibilities that are ours alone. When we try to get others to bear these basic responsibilities it is a form of laziness. When we try to carry these burdens for other people we are no longer helping but enabling them to become irresponsible.

Sometimes when others begin to infringe upon us and take advantage of us we almost want to respond like Lucy did in the popular comic strip of "Peanuts." She had asked Charlie Brown the deep and probing question, "Why are we here on earth?" He replied to her that we are here "To make others happy." Lucy pondered this for a moment and finally retorted to Charlie, "Then why are the others here?"^(F8)

Verse 6

SHARING IN THE WORK OF GOD

Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Galatians 6:6

When we come to this verse we realize that we are looking back two thousand years, to a time when the church was very young and when things were done much differently than they are today. Morris remarks about this time saying, "In the early church Christian teachers led precarious lives. There were no elaborate schemes for seeing that even their elementary needs were met – no guaranteed clergy stipends. In this passage we see something of the way provision was made."^(F9)

This passage even seems to reflect back to the time when Jesus sent his disciples out to preach and teach about the kingdom of God. In Luke 10:4-8, we read his instructions, "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals…When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you…Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages." We realize that "wages" back then had a totally different meaning than they have acquired today.

The word for giving and receiving used here is based on the Greek word koinonia, which has much to do with relationship, fellowship and even partnership in the gospel.^{kathechoumenos] translated as 'taught' and 'teaches' which are found in this verse." (Utley, p. 88.).">(F10)} It is certainly not a matter of a cold and impersonal check being cut and issued for some minister. Stephen Neill the Anglican missionary says about it, "This is not to be regarded as a payment. The word 'shared' is a rich Christian word, which is used of our fellowship in the Holy Spirit."^(F11)

The idea of communicating or fellowshipping through gifts and offerings is brought out many places in scripture. We are to support those who feed us spiritually (1 Corinthians 9:11). We see that the Lord has also commanded that those who share the gospel with others should live from the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14). Even the elders who rule the church in a worthy manner should be blessed with double honor. This is especially true for those elders who spend their time laboring in the word (1 Timothy 5:17).^(F12)

Here I must pause and reflect on some of my own experiences. For a number of years I was a pastor and carried on my work as most pastors do. In time, I began to have a problem with the concept of the professional "salaried" or "paid" ministry. Although God has commanded that the minister live by preaching the gospel, I was always a little uncomfortable with the way it was done, and may have felt somewhat like Paul did. We remember that while he preached he insisted on being a "tentmaker" in order to secure his living and help support his friends. Still in his "tentmaking" role throughout his many ministry travels he was also often refreshed by gifts and offerings from believers.

Finally, I left the so-called "paid" ministry and eventually began to conduct a faith-type work. My wife and I ended up laboring sixteen years in Israel in just this way. In our case we were called to live by faith alone and were instructed never to mention our personal needs or ask funds for ourselves. My wife and I wrote on our financial sheets each month the words from Deuteronomy 33:27, "Underneath are the Everlasting Arms." His arms were always there.

I am now happy to testify that in sixteen years of ministry in Israel we were well cared for, although for most of that time we never had church support or a salary of any kind. The same has applied to many years before and after that particular ministry period. We were surprised on many occasions when people slipped money into our hands, and sometimes in large amounts. One woman felt led to give to our work in Israel an almost new, and desperately needed, GMC van. It is difficult to look back upon those years without some tears of gratitude welling up in our eyes.

Actually in our experiences over the last thirty years or so we remember that in our informal groups money often flowed in a handshake, not only to us but to others in the ministry and to those who had special needs. God just raised up individuals to help and share when the assistance was needed. Living this way seemed a little scary at times but as we look back on it there was certainly a lot of joy and wonderful fellowship together (koinonia).

Verses 7-10

SOWING AND REAPING

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7

Paul gives us caution here in what is surely one of our weakest areas, the area of self-deception. Since the heart itself is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) "our capacity for self-deception is frightening."^(F13) He reminds us however that God is not mocked. The Greek word here is mukterizo and this word is interesting. It means to turn up our noses, to sneer or to treat with contempt.^(F14)

It is thought by some that Paul is using a common proverb here when he says "A man reaps what he sows." There is a great deal of evidence of this sowing and reaping in scripture. In Job 4:8, we read that people who plough iniquity reap iniquity. In Hosea 8:7, we learn that those who sow to the wind reap a whirlwind. Also, in Proverbs 22:8, we see that those who sow trouble reap trouble.

The great theme of sowing and reaping was the subject of one of Jesus' most important parables, the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-23. This parable has such spiritual depth to it that Jesus says it is necessary for us to understand it before the other parables will become clear to us (Mark 4:13). Jesus continues on through much of Matthew 13 speaking of seeds and sowing in other contexts.

Seed-sowing is really a miracle business. Through the grace of God we are allowed to participate in these miracles, be they miracles of sowing natural seed in the garden or miracles of bringing forth children in marriage. Of course it is also possible to sow the word of God into other people's lives. When we sow we do not just receive the seed back but instead we reap a crop of thirty, sixty or even a hundred-fold (Mark 4:20). Sometimes though in sowing the word we may not get to gather the crop ourselves, but our fellow-workers may get the privilege of gathering it (John 4:35-38). In any case we can all rejoice together.

"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (6:8). We must remember that in all our acts we reap what we sow. If we sow in the Spirit we will reap spiritual things but if we sow in the flesh we will reap fleshly things. This is a law of the kingdom. Some folks who do not quite believe this law sow their "wild oats" in the flesh and then find themselves praying for a crop failure. If we make a habit of sowing good things in other lives and even in our own lives we will have a happy harvest.

We note here that Paul has just given us another way to live or walk in the Spirit.

We can constantly sow spiritual seed as we live our lives.^(F15) Obviously this sowing can be done in many ways, with our deeds, our prayers, and even our thoughts. As that old proverb goes, "Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny."^(F16)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (6:9). The word for "weary" (Gk. enkakwmen) conveys the ideas of fainting or of losing heart.^(F17) We are reminded of those priests who served the Lord long ago in the day of Malachi the prophet. They were weary and greatly discouraged. God accused them with these words, "And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously, 'says the LORD Almighty'" (Malachi 1:13).

It appears that too many Christians have fainted, grown weary or given up, especially on the task of sowing the gospel seed. It is now reported that less than a quarter of all adult church attenders today are motivated to share the gospel with others.^(F18) We should remind ourselves occasionally of Paul's words in Romans 2:7, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." He also speaks to us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers"(6:10). The Lord illustrated this verse to me back in the early 90s as I directed a large Christian food distribution center in Jerusalem. At that time our organization was dispensing hundreds of tons of free food primarily to the Jewish people and especially to those Jews who were returning to the land from the former USSR. The Lord revealed to me that I was neglecting the believers who were working in the land and even those who were working for me. From that time on we made a special effort to include the Christians who were pouring out their lives for the Lord in Israel.

We need to labor for the Lord while it is day because the night will soon come when we can no longer do our work (John 9:4).

Verses 11-15

CIRCUMCISION OR NEW CREATION?

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! Galatians 6:11

Paul closes out his letter to the Galatians with what is called an epistolary postscript. This was a conventional feature of many Hellenistic letters.^(F19) It was customary in Paul's day for folks to use an amanuensis or scribe when they composed formal letters such as this. Apparently Paul was doing so when suddenly he seems to have taken the pen and started writing the postscript himself. In other passages like 1 Corinthians 16:21-24, Colossians 4:18 and 2 Thessalonians 3:17 we see a similar thing. It is thought that Paul did this as proof that he was really the author of the epistle.^(F20) At that time, and especially in later days, there were a number of false epistles circulating that all claimed to be written by the apostles or other great biblical figures (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:2).

Interestingly, Professor Adolf Deissmann (1866-1937) brought forth proof of the postscript style of writing by producing a papyri letter from AD 50, with the body of the letter written in one hand and the farewell written in another.^(F21) Apparently these early pieces of biblical correspondence were written in capital letters and here we see that Paul makes the capitals letters even larger for emphasis (or because of his poor eyesight). It was customary for these concluding lines to summarize certain important points in the letter's body and to even provide interpretive clues for the letter as a whole.^(F22)

"Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ" (6:12). The Judaizers were dealing with outward and fleshly things rather than inward and spiritual things. How well did they fulfill the words of Isaiah 29:13, "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'"

These Judaizer deceivers were dishonest and hypocritical. Paul focuses on some of the real motivation of their teaching. They wanted to avoid the persecution they would receive if they preached the cross.^(F23) The cross had always been a huge stumbling block for the Jews and the Judaizers were supposedly Christian Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23). Also, at that time the Jewish faith had a great deal of acceptance and protection by the Roman government. The Christian faith was the "new kid on the block" so to speak and had no official sanction or protection.^(F24)

"Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh" (6:13). We remember that the Judaizers belonged to the same religious group as the Pharisees.^(F25) On one occasion Jesus said of the Pharisees, "…Do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 'Everything they do is done for men to see" (Matthew 23:3-5).

Of course, we also remember that the problem with the law was that it could not be kept perfectly as God required because we ourselves are not perfect. Indeed, it is only through the finished work of Christ and with the Holy Spirit living within us that the law can be kept.

The Judaizers only wanted to gloat and brag about their accomplishments. Like some zealous evangelicals in the past they simply wanted to add another "scalp" to their belts.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (6:14). Stott says here, "Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross that we shrink to our true size."^(F26)

In the natural, Paul had a lot of things of which he could boast. He lists many of these things in Philippians 3:4-8. However, he ends up with these words of verse 7, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." Paul continues on with the astounding statement in Philippians 3:8 (NLT), "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ…."

Paul never forgot that he was a crucified man. He was crucified with Christ and thus he was crucified to the world and it was crucified to him. As Bartlett says, "Conquest by the Cross is prerequisite to conquest in it."^(F27) Because Paul was dead to himself and alive to Christ he was able to bring many who were dead to spiritual life.

"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation" (6:15). Paul sums it up in another place, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Circumcision or uncircumcision have no significance or meaning now that the new has come. We are now born again by the Spirit of God into a new life (John 3:3). We are adopted children of God by faith in Jesus. We now have the Holy Spirit of God living within us and helping us. Old things are passed away and all is new.

Verses 16-18

PAUL'S CLOSING

Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule – to the Israel of God. Galatians 6:16

Peace and mercy were common greetings heard often among the early Christians. The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) is heard among the Jews as a common greeting to this day. We see here that there were rules in the Christian faith, regardless of what the lawless would like to believe today. From this word used here (Gk. kanon), which originally meant measuring rod or rule, we get our church concepts of "cannon" or ecclesiastical rules and laws.

The expression "Israel of God" used in this verse has caused a great deal of discussion among commentators. Generally in Paul's letters the word "Israel" has a purely national and ethnic meaning of the Jews and does not include the Gentiles.^(F28) This is not the case here. Paul is actually sharing with us a great mystery that he clearly reveals in other places such as in Romans 11:17 and Ephesians 3:6.

Lightfoot says of Paul's expression, "It stands here not for the faithful converts from the circumcision alone, but for the spiritual Israel generally, the whole body of believers, whether Jew or Gentile."^(F29) We need to understand that as believing Gentiles we are now also children of Abraham by faith as Paul has said. We need to understand that we are grafted into the house of Israel through Jesus (Romans 11:17-18). We are Jews inwardly in that God has now given us Jewish hearts (Romans 2:28).

Now that we are grafted into the ancient Jewish olive tree of Israel we simply must avoid becoming proud and we must not boast (Romans 11:18). This is unfortunately what the church has done over the last two thousand years. We exalted ourselves above Israel and then we dared to actually persecute Israel. At times we were so foolish that we tried to cut down the old olive tree. At other times we claimed that we were the olive tree and that Israel was no more. We forgot that only some of the olive branches were broken off, not all of them. We were grafted in with the remaining branches and we stand there only by faith and grace.

This is really news to a lot of church people. Unfortunately, today many main-line churches are placing themselves in a position that firmly opposes Israel and everything Israeli. They have used their great wealth and influence to fight against Israel on the international scene. This is a shame and a disgrace. One of the best kept secrets of Christianity seems to be that our Christian family tree is Jewish. Yes, we are grafted into the ancient olive tree of Israel. The church therefore has no independent existence apart from this old tree of Israel. Clearly the root of this tree is Jesus or Yeshua.

"From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus" (6:17). Paul was a branded man. He had the marks of Jesus all over his body. He was ready for people to leave him alone because he had suffered enough already (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:24-25).

The word for "marks" or "brands" used here is stigmata. It was a word used in secular Greek for the branding of slaves.^{stigmata." He says "Stigmata – occurs only here in the NT...The branding of animals on the right thigh and slaves on the forehead was a mark of ownership and protection against theft. ..loyal slaves and soldiers who received a tattoo on the hand."">(F30)} The marks of Christ upon his loyal ones today may to some seem like a stigma, but those marks are no doubt badges of courage before the Lord and before his holy angels. Hansen in the IVP Commentary says of all this, "While the false teachers were preoccupied with the mark left by the ritual of circumcision, Paul drew attention to the marks left by the reality of serving Christ. Such a proof of devotion to Christ should silence all critics."^(F31)

Now Paul gives his benediction to the epistle saying, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen" (6:18).