Gal 6:7-10 | TNotes | STEP | 6:7 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 ; Ps 126:5 ; Prov 22:8 ; Hos 8:7 ; 10:12-15 ; Luke 19:21-23 ; 1 Cor 3:12-15 ; 9:11 ; 2 Cor 9:6 ).

6:7 ^a 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 ^b; Ps 126:5 ^c; Prov 22:8 ^d; Hos 8:7 ^e; 10:12-15 ^f; Luke 19:21-23 ^g; 1 Cor 3:12-15 ^h; 9:11 ⁱ; 2 Cor 9:6 ^j).
6:8 ^k Living to please the Spirit is only possible in the Spirit’s power (3:3 ^l; 5:16 ^m). 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 ⁿ 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 ^o).

• 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 ^p).

• 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 ^q; 2 Cor 4:1 ^r).
6:10 ^s Therefore: This statement forms an inclusio (bookends) for the section (5:13–6:10 ^t) by stating the same theme as 5:13 ^u: 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.