Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians Final Instructions on Christian Duties Galatians 6:1-18
In this final chapter in the book of Galatians, Paul issued some vital instructions on Christian duties. Galatians 6:1-18 may be outlined as follows: I. Instructions on Restoring an Errant Brother – Galatians 6:1-5; II. Instructions with Regards to Sharing – Galatians 6:6-10; III. Concluding Instructions for the Galatian Believers – Galatians 6:11-18.
- Instructions on Restoring an Errant Brother – Galatians 6:1-5
In verses 1-3, Paul lays out instructions on how believers ought to minister to a brother overtaken in a fault. The expression “overtaken in a fault” in verse 1 can mean either that the one overtaken was surprised by the fault itself and did not mean to fall into sin, or it can mean the person was surprised when someone discovered his sin. In either case, the offender is a Christian whom his fellow Christians are to restore.
The word for “restore” in Galatians 6:1 was used of mending nets (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19). It is the responsibility of mature or spiritual believers to restore a sinning brother or sister to usefulness in the church. Those who are mature in the faith should look out and help those who are struggling with sin, and they are to restore them. They are to do so in a spirit of humility or meekness. The one who restores needs to take heed to himself, being mindful of his or her own potential for falling into sin. When we restore a sinning brother, we are relieving that one of the heavy burden he or she bears. When we do this, we demonstrate Christ-like love and “so fulfill the law of Christ” (v. 2). The law of Christ is “Love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12).
In verse 3, Paul issues a warning against pride. Pride or conceit can work against believers acting a compassionate way in helping an errant brother. As believers in verses 4-5, we must evaluate our own work according to God’s standards, and not man’s. Each believer is responsible for his own work before God.
- Instructions with Regards to Sharing – Galatians 6:6-10
In verse 6, Christians are responsible to “communicate” with those who faithfully teach them. The word for “communicate” means “to share with.” This refers to financial help. Those in the church who devote themselves to instructing the saints are worthy of support (I Cor. 9:14; Phil. 4:15-18; I Tim. 5:17-18). Paul lays out a universal principle in applying verse 7, that says: “one reaps what he sows” (I Cor. 9:10-11; II. Cor. 9:6). If the Galatians did not generously support honest, faithful teachers, they would reap emptiness and even hardship in their lives. This principle is restated in Galatians 6:8, where the apostle gives it a wider application: namely, that sowing to the flesh reaps “corruption”, and sowing to the Spirit reaps “life everlasting.” One who directs his life toward pleasing the flesh will reap corruption, or moral decay. A Christian sowing to the Spirit will direct his life toward the things of God.
In verse 9, Paul admonished believers to not grow weary in doing good. Paul urged believers to remain diligent in doing good, realizing that the basic principle of sowing and reaping is unalterable and that the harvest of divine blessing will come in God’s good time. In verse 10, Paul admonished believers to do good to all people as we have opportunity. Our loving concern is to be expressed for all people, especially those of the “household of faith.”
III. Concluding Instructions for the Galatian Believers – Galatians 6:11-18
In verse 11, Paul wrote the conclusion of this epistle in capital letters after the rest of the epistle was penned mostly in lowercase letters. Many scholars affirm that Paul wrote with large letters due to being afflicted with weak eyesight. In verses 12-13, the Judaizers who insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1) were only men-pleasers, seeking to make a good impression outwardly and afraid of persecution. In addition, they wanted to boast about the number of those they hoped to win over to circumcision as a religious and merit-earning rite.
In verse 14, Paul’s boast was in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereas, with the Judaizers, the cross was an object of shame. Paul viewed the cross as an object of glorying. The Judaizers gloried in the flesh; however, Paul gloried in the Saviour. The “cross” speaks of the atonement of Christ with which Paul was identified (Gal. 2:20) and by which the world was crucified to Paul and he to the world.
In verse 15, as believers view the cross of Christ and their new position with respect to the world, no outward religious symbol or lack of it means anything as a way of salvation. The only thing that matters is to be a part of the new creation by the new birth (II. Cor. 5:17). In verse 16, Paul announced that “peace and mercy” from God are available to those who walk according to this rule, that is, according to the message of salvation by grace through faith alone. This blessing is pronounced on believing Galatians and on believing Jews.
With verse 17, Paul asked for an end of the trouble he received from the Judaizers. Paul offered as a final proof to his critics the marks of Jesus on his body. These marks demonstrated he was a slave of Christ and not just a people-pleaser. In verse 18, Paul concludes this epistle expressing his heartfelt desire that the grace of God would be the Galatians’ abiding portion. He ends this epistle reminding the Galatians of his love for them, calling them brothers.
May God Bless!
