Deuteronomy 10:17

2 Chronicles 19:7

Galatians 6:7-8

Verse 7. But not deceived. That is, in regard to your character, and your hopes for eternity. This is a formula of introduction to some admonition that is peculiarly weighty and important. It implies that there was danger that they would be deceived in reference to their character. The sources of the danger were the corruption of their own hearts, the difficulty of knowing their true character, the instructions of false teachers, etc. 1Cor 6:9.

God is not mocked. He cannot be imposed on, or mocked. He knows what our real character is, and he will judge us accordingly. The word rendered mocked μυκτηριζω means, properly, to turn up the nose in scorn; hence to mock, or deride, or insult. The sense is, that God could not be imposed on, or could not be insulted with impunity, or successfully. To mock is, properly,

(1.) to imitate, to mimic; to imitate in contempt or derision.

(2.) To deride, to laugh at, to ridicule.

(3.) To defeat, or to illude, or to disappoint.

(4.) To fool, to tantalize--Webster. Here it cannot mean to imitate, or to mimic, but it refers to the principles of the Divine administration, and must mean that they could not be treated with contempt, or successfully evaded. They could not hope to illude or impose on God. His principles of government were settled, and they could not impose on him. To what the reference is here, is not perfectly plain. In the connexion in which it stands, it seems to refer to the support of the ministers of the gospel; and Paul introduces the general principle, that as a man sows he will reap, to show them what will be the effect of a liberal and proper use of their property. If they made a proper use of it; if. they employed it for benevolent purposes; if they appropriated what they should to the support of religion, they would reap accordingly. God could not be imposed on in regard to this. They could not make him think that they had true religion when they were sowing to the flesh, and when they were spending their money in purchasing pleasure, and in luxury and vanity. No zeal, however ardent; no prayers, however fervent or long; no professions, however loud, would impose on God. And to make such prayers, and to manifest such zeal and such strong professions, while the heart was with the world, and they were spending their money for everything else but religion, was mocking God. Alas, how much mockery of God like this still prevails! How much, when men seem disposed to make God believe that they are exceedingly zealous and devoted, while their heart is truly with the world! How many long prayers are offered; how much zeal is shown; how many warm professions are made, as if to make God and man believe that the heart was truly engaged in the cause of religion, while little or nothing is given in the cause of benevolence; while the ministers of religion are suffered to starve; and while the "loud professor" rolls in wealth, and is distinguished for luxury of living, for gaiety of apparel, for splendour of equipage, and for extravagance in parties of pleasure! Such professors attempt to mock God. They are really sowing to the flesh; and of the flesh they must reap corruption.

For whatsoever a man soweth, etc. 2Cor 9:6. This figure is taken from agriculture. A man who sows wheat, shall reap wheat; he who sows barley, shall reap barley; he who sows cockle, shall reap cockle. Every kind of grain will produce grain like itself. So it is in regard to our works. He who is liberal, shall be dealt with liberally; he who is righteous, shall be rewarded; he who is a sinner, shall reap according to his deeds.

(*) "mocked" "not to be deluded" Verse 8. For he that soweth to his flesh. That makes provision for the indulgence of fleshly appetites and passions. Gal 5:19; and Gal 5:20-21. He who makes use of his property to give indulgence to licentiousness, intemperance, and vanity.

Shall of the flesh. From the flesh, or as that which indulgence in fleshly appetites properly produces. Punishment, under the Divine government, is commonly in the line of offences. The punishment of licentiousness and intemperance in this life is commonly loathsome and offensive disease; and, when long indulged, the sensualist becomes haggard, and bloated, and corrupted, and sinks into the grave. Such, also, is often the punishment of luxurious living, of a pampered appetite, of gluttony, as well as of intemperate drinking. But if the punishment does not follow in this life, it will be sure to overtake the sensualist in the world to come. There he shall reap ruin final and everlasting.

Corruption.

(1.) By disease.

(2.) In the grave--the home to which the sensualist rapidly travels.

(3.) In the world of woe. There all shall be corrupt. His virtue, even the semblance of virtue, shall all be gone. His understanding, will, fancy--his whole soul--shall be debased and corrupt. No virtue will linger and live on the plains of ruin, but all shah be depravity and woe. Everything in hell is debased and. corrupt; and the whole harvest of sensuality, in this world and the world to come, is degradation and defilement.

But he that soweth to the Spirit. He who follows the leading and cultivates the affections which the Holy Spirit would produce. Gal 5:22,23.

Shall of the Spirit. As the result of following the leading of the Spirit.

Reap life everlasting. Rom 2:7.

(b) "soweth to the flesh" Job 4:8, Prov 22:8, Hoss 8:7 (+) "corruption" "destruction" (c) "to the Spirit" Prov 11:18, Jas 3:18

1 Peter 1:17

Verse 17. And if ye call on the Father. That is, if you are true Christians, or truly pious--piety being represented in the Scriptures as calling on God, or as the worship of God. Acts 9:11; Gen 4:26, 1Kgs 18:24, Ps 116:17, 2Kgs 5:11, 1Chr 16:8, Joel 2:32, Rom 10:13; Zeph 3:9, 1Cor 1:2, Acts 2:21. The word "Father" here is used evidently not to denote the Father in contradistinction to the Son, but as referring to God as the rather of the universe. 1Pet 1:14 "As obedient children." God is often spoken of as the Father of the intelligent beings whom he has made. Christians worship him as a Father--as one having all the feelings of a kind and tender parent towards them. Ps 103:13, seq.

Who without respect of persons. Impartiality. Who is not influenced in his treatment of men by a regard to rank, wealth, beauty, or any external distinction. Acts 10:34, Rom 2:11.

Judgeth according to every man's work. He judges each one according to his character; or to what he has done, Rev 22:12. 2Cor 5:10. The meaning is, "You worship a God who will judge every man according to his real character, and you should therefore lead such lives as he can approve."

Pass the time of your sojourning. "Of your temporary residence on earth. This is not your permanent home, but you are strangers and sojourners." Heb 11:13.

In fear. Php 2:12 Heb 12:28. With true reverence or veneration for God and his law. Religion is often represented as the reverent fear of God, De 6:2,13,24, Prov 1:7, 3:13, 14:26,27, et saepe al.

(f) "fear" Php 2:12
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