Galatians 6:1-18
Doing Good to All
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but a New Creation
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May 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. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
St. Paul teaches us that if one of us sins, we should forgive that person and gently restore him...He tells us to help others in this world who have overwhelming troubles and sorrows...When we do this (help others), we are fulfilling the law of Christ...If anyone of us thinks that he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself...We must remember that only God is good...St. Paul tells us that we should look at ourselves...If we are going to boast, let us boast in the LORD...If we boast in the LORD, that He has created us in His image, and are redeemed through Jesus Christ, that is good...If we compare ourselves to others and boast, pride can happen...We may be tempted by self righteousness, and say something like the self righteous Pharisee...The Pharisee said, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-even this tax collector...I fast twice a week, a give a tenth of all I get."...The tax collector stood at a distance from the temple...He could not even look to the sky...The tax collector beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, I am a sinner." ...Jesus tells us the tax collector went home justified, more than the Pharisee (Luke 18:11-12)...
St. Paul then tells us to share things...We can share many things...If we receive instruction and learn things, share even this...Share all your good things...
Do not be deceived and mock God, because God cannot and should not be mocked...He is our creator...Paul teaches us that we normally work to satisfy our own nature, our own desires, our own pleasures...But if we work and live to please our Holy Spirit, then we are focused on others, and not on our own desires...If we can live by the Spirit, we will reap eternal life...We will be focused on God and our neighbor, and less focused on ourselves...Let us not grow weary in helping others or doing good, especially to the family of believers...At the proper time, He will reward us...
Paul says he must write in large letters...Some think Paul suffered from an eye disorder, and now could not see the smaller letters he wrote...
Circumcision was important to the Jewish belief, but Paul tells us that circumcision is not as important as one would think... Circumcision is only an outward appearance...Not even the circumcised can obey each and every law everyday...Let us not boast about an appearance, but boast about Jesus Christ and His new creation...He has died for our sins...Peace and mercy will follow all who believe that God sent His Son, to die for us...If we believe this, then we will have eternal life...
Paul ends this letter to the Galatians saying that he bears the marks of Jesus, through his frequent beatings for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ...In the cities of Lystra and Iconium in the region of Galatia Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city (Acts 14:19)...So the Galatians would have been aware of this...
The Scriptures of God were written over a period of many years...Jesus fulfills the Scripture...Jesus is the Scripture...He is a part of each book of the Bible, because it is about Him...The Bible is about the truth, and He is the truth...
St. Paul wants us to put God and others first in our lives...Let us focus on the Holy Spirit, and when we do, this focus becomes more natural...We must share or learn to share...Let us do good to all people...When believers need help, we need to help believers...During this time Christians were being persecuted and Paul knew they sometimes needed help to persevere...Paul, himself, was flogged and persecuted for teaching the gospel of Jesus...And let us remember outward appearances are one thing, but the love and belief in our hearts for God, the Father, and His Son, and the love for our neighbor is what will bring us eternal life...