Galatians 6:1-18 Lesson 367

Galatians 6:1-18
Lesson 367

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Help each other (6:1-6).
We reap what we sow (6:7-10).
The end of spiritual bondage.

Paul's final advice, summary, and farewell.

Study Tip:

Repetition is an old tool writers use to emphasize key points.
Whenever you see themes repeated in the Bible, it is because God considers them important.
Hover over these passages a little longer in order to fully grasp their meaning.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Galatians

The King James Bible

Galatians 6:1-18
Our liberty and our obligations

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

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

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

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

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

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

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

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Margin notes:

"If a man be overtaken in a fault." (6:1) - "If someone succumbs to sin."

"Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." (6:1) - Believers should help restore the faith of fallen Christians, gently and humbly. If they do, a reward awaits them (James 5:20).

"Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (6:1) - "Watch yourself, or you too will be tempted."

"Bear ye one another's burdens." (6:2) - Be a blessing to others (Romans 15:1).

"The law of Christ." (6:2) - Jesus expects Christians to love each other (John 13:34-35; John 15:12).

"Let every man prove his own work." (6:4) - "Let everyone examine his own conduct and character." Paul is reinforcing this message from 1 Corinthians 11:28.

"Every man shall bear his own burden." (6:5) - Everyone must answer for their own sins (Romans 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:8).

"Communicate unto him that teacheth." (6:6) - Share with ministers, and financially support them (1 Corinthians 9:7-12).

"God is not mocked." (6:7) - Means, "God is not deceived."

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (6:7) - This proverb is similar to the one found in Job 4:8. Whatever we plant in life, we harvest. When a farmer plants corn, does he expect wheat to grow? Can we live a sinful life and expect a heavenly reward (Numbers 32:23)?

"He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." (6:8) - "Those who live for earthly pleasures shall reap their destruction" (Hosea 8:7; Romans 8:13).

"He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (6:8) - "Those who live a spiritual life will harvest life everlasting, thanks to the Holy Spirit."

"In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (6:9) - "In due time we will reap (what we have sown), if we don’t give up."

"Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (6:10) - "Do good for all mankind, especially Christians." Stand up for what you believe in.

"Many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh." (6:12) - "Many (Judaizers) want to show off to people (how religious they are)."

"They constrain you to be circumcised." (6:12) - "They (the Judaizers) coerce you to be circumcised (follow the Mosaic Law)."

"Lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ." (6:12) - "Or they (the Judaizers) will be persecuted for preaching the Gospel of Christ."

"Keep the law." (6:13) - "Obey the (Mosaic) Law."

"Glory." (6:13) - Means "Boast."

"Save in the cross." (6:14) - "Except in the cross."

"The world is crucified unto me." (6:14) - "The (corrupt) world is dead to me." Believers live in this world, but are not of this world.

"Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (6:15) - Salvation doesn't depend on circumcision. It depends on faith (Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 7:19). Once they have faith, a believer becomes "a new creature."

"The Israel of God." (6:16) - Here, Israel is the seed of Abraham, Christians (3:29).

"I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (6:17) - The "marks" are the scars Paul received from being stoned (Acts 14:19), beaten, and whipped for preaching the Gospel (2 Corinthians 6:4-6).

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." (6:18) - Paul says farewell the same way in Philemon (Philemon 1:25).

Read more on helping sinners in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.

New Living Translation

Galatians 6:1-18
We Harvest What We Plant

1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

2 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

7 Don't be misled-you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.

10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.

Paul's Final Advice

11 Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting.

12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.

13 And even those who advocate circumcision don't keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.

14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.

15 It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

16 May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

17 From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.

18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What is the crucial point of this passage?

Let me know if your email address is changing.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The critical point of this passage is the importance of fulfilling our Christian obligations. We do this by helping fallen believers (6:1) and bearing each other's burdens (6:2). Caring for each other makes believers good role models and demonstrates their love and compassion.  Each of us will someday reap what we sow. If we sow love, hope, and encouragement, that's what we will reap in heaven (6:9).

Additional Note: When others fall into temptation, instead of looking at them disapprovingly, remember the times you fell, and reach out with love.


Application thought for the day:

What did you learn from Galatians?
How many applications can you find in this chapter?
What insights can you apply to your life?

This is the final lesson of "The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Galatians."

In Galatians, we saw Paul defend himself and Christ's teachings while
emphasizing that salvation comes from faith in Jesus, and nothing else.
It is God and God alone who can save us from sin. When we trust God, we find freedom.
It is a simple message, and one Paul repeated often.

Galatians is only five pages long, do a quick re-read to reinforce the lessons learned.

I'll send you the first lesson in Ephesians in a few days.

God Bless!

Please remember.
Your donation puts Bible lessons in more homes.

The world needs the Bible now more than ever.
You can quickly and safely contribute today using this secure link.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2022 evolke

Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons