Gal 6:6-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 6:6-10: 6:6-10 In financially supporting those who teach them God’s message (6:6 ), believers harvest a spiritual crop. 6:6 Supporting Christian teachers applies 5:13 and 6:2 (cp. 1 Tim 5:17-18 ).

Summary for Gal 6:6-10: 6:6-10 ^a In financially supporting those who teach them God’s message (6:6 ^b), believers harvest a spiritual crop. 6:6 ^c Supporting Christian teachers applies 5:13 ^d and 6:2 ^e (cp. 1 Tim 5:17-18 ^f).
6:7 ^g you cannot mock the justice of God: God cannot be fooled by spiritual pretenses. All people will harvest the consequences of their actions (what you plant; see also Job 4:8 ^h; Ps 126:5 ⁱ; Prov 22:8 ^j; Hos 8:7 ^k; 10:12-15 ^l; Luke 19:21-23 ^m; 1 Cor 3:12-15 ⁿ; 9:11 ^o; 2 Cor 9:6 ^p).
6:8 ^q Living to please the Spirit is only possible in the Spirit’s power (3:3 ^r; 5:16 ^s). Those who trust in human effort and those who think they can do as they wish are in the same position: They live to satisfy their own sinful nature. Such people harvest decay and death. Those who live by the Spirit’s power and trust in God will harvest everlasting life.
6:9 ^t Let’s not get tired: Either by letting sinful behavior creep in or by grasping for a legal code of conduct rather than being in step with the Spirit (5:25 ^u).

• At just the right time we will reap: This assurance is a source of strength for Christians to continue doing good work (cp. Rom 8:28 ^v).

• if we don’t give up: The fulfillment of God’s promises to believers requires their steadfast perseverance in faith (see also Luke 18:1 ^w; 2 Cor 4:1 ^x).
6:10 ^y Therefore: This statement forms an inclusio (bookends) for the section (5:13–6:10 ^z) by stating the same theme as 5:13 ^aa: Freedom in the Spirit compels us to do good to others in love.

• Doing good to those in the family of faith demonstrates God’s faithfulness to his children: He provides for all their needs.